Story City city, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Story City city is a small community located in Iowa. The total population is 3,363. It ranks as the 114th most populous out of 1,018 cities and towns in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Story City city is 44.6 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. 10.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Story City city is $73,558. This is about average than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 6% lower. The poverty rate stands at 13.1%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 7% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $205,800. Housing costs are 5% higher than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Story City city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Story City city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.3%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 3.8%.

Education

35.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Story City city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 16% higher 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 96.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Story City 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.