Royal, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Royal, Iowa had a total population of 585, the 432nd largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $56,893, which is 24% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
Royal Quick Facts
How Royal Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 518 | 585 | +12.9% |
| Median household income | $57,450 | $56,893 | -1.0% |
| Median home value | $79,400 | $87,200 | +9.8% |
How Royal Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Royal Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Clay County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer | 11,400 | $59,667 | 14.0% | $184,800 |
| Everly | 584 | $57,656 | 6.3% | $112,000 |
| Peterson | 298 | $73,333 | 4.4% | $93,500 |
| Fostoria | 181 | $81,250 | 0.0% | $161,800 |
| Dickens | 131 | $71,250 | 6.2% | $99,300 |
| Webb | 102 | $55,000 | 2.0% | $65,700 |
| Rossie | 88 | N/A | 8.0% | N/A |
| Greenville | 62 | $44,531 | 0.0% | $90,500 |
| Gillett Grove | 40 | N/A | 2.5% | $61,000 |
Cities Similar to Royal
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everly | 584 | $57,656 | $112,000 | 25.8% | 6.3% |
| Fonda | 589 | $54,853 | $58,500 | 18.3% | 10.8% |
| Martensdale | 569 | $57,500 | $181,400 | 15.6% | 10.2% |
| Garwin | 571 | $55,714 | $87,600 | 9.5% | 7.7% |
| Charter Oak | 580 | $53,042 | $77,700 | 7.6% | 7.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 585, Royal's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Royal is a small community located in Iowa, within Clay County. The total population is 585. It ranks as the 432nd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Royal is 30.0 years. This is 22% lower than the state median of 38.6 years. With 30.8% of the population under 18, Royal has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Royal is $56,893. This is 24% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 30% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.0%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 1% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $87,200. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Royal is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 65.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Royal is White (non-Hispanic), making up 76.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (11.6% vs 7.3%).
Education
15.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Royal, Iowa is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Iowa state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Royal, Iowa?
Royal, Iowa has a population of 585 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Royal, IA?
The median household income in Royal is $56,893, which is 30% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Royal, IA?
The poverty rate in Royal is 12.0%. This means approximately 70 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Royal, Iowa?
Royal's population is 76.1% White, 0.0% Black, 11.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Royal, IA?
The median home value in Royal is $87,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Royal, Iowa?
15.3% of adults (25+) in Royal hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.