Runnells, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Runnells, Iowa had a total population of 440, the 502nd largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $101,500, which is 35% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 35% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in Iowa.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x.
Runnells Quick Facts
How Runnells 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 | 397 | 440 | +10.8% |
| Median household income | $98,125 | $101,500 | +3.4% |
| Median home value | $196,900 | $231,600 | +17.6% |
How Runnells 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+)
Runnells Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Polk County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 212,421 | $65,932 | 14.9% | $194,700 |
| Ankeny | 72,615 | $108,198 | 4.2% | $331,000 |
| West Des Moines | 71,083 | $86,594 | 8.4% | $309,000 |
| Urbandale | 46,595 | $112,795 | 6.8% | $335,500 |
| Johnston | 24,384 | $106,551 | 10.2% | $369,100 |
| Altoona | 21,495 | $86,114 | 8.3% | $274,600 |
| Clive | 19,012 | $132,121 | 7.3% | $401,100 |
| Grimes | 16,366 | $120,037 | 4.4% | $304,700 |
| Norwalk | 14,183 | $102,722 | 4.2% | $303,100 |
| Pleasant Hill | 11,136 | $90,508 | 8.9% | $295,100 |
Cities Similar to Runnells
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wahpeton | 443 | $107,917 | $495,500 | 59.5% | 5.8% |
| Worthington | 431 | $97,500 | $166,800 | 13.4% | 2.8% |
| Martelle | 457 | $93,333 | $134,400 | 15.6% | 13.1% |
| Lockridge | 452 | $113,750 | N/A | 23.2% | 1.8% |
| Delhi | 432 | $87,750 | $170,100 | 21.5% | 5.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 440, Runnells'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
Runnells is a small community located in Iowa, within Polk County. The total population is 440. It ranks as the 502nd most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Runnells is 39.6 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Runnells is $101,500. This is 35% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 26% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.0%. This is 28% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.7%. This is 59% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $231,600. Housing costs are 11% higher than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.3x, Runnells is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 85.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Runnells has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.3% of all residents. 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
23.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% 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 97.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Runnells, 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 Runnells, Iowa?
Runnells, Iowa has a population of 440 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Runnells, IA?
The median household income in Runnells is $101,500, which is 26% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Runnells, IA?
The poverty rate in Runnells is 8.0%. This means approximately 35 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Runnells, Iowa?
Runnells's population is 87.3% White, 0.0% Black, 11.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Runnells, IA?
The median home value in Runnells is $231,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.3x.
How educated is Runnells, Iowa?
23.0% of adults (25+) in Runnells hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.