Royal city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Royal city is a small community located in Iowa. The total population is 518. It ranks as the 461st most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Royal city is 31.2 years. This is 19% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Royal city is $57,450. This is 21% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 39% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 15% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $79,400. Housing costs are 59% lower than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Royal city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Royal city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 12.6%. The Black or African American population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (12.6% vs 7.0%).

Education

19.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 36% lower than the state rate of 30.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Royal city, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,018 Census-designated places in Iowa. For official data, visit data.census.gov.