Story City, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Story City, Iowa had a total population of 3,398, the 113th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $96,605, which is 29% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- 44.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Iowa.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x.
Story City Quick Facts
How Story City 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 | 3,363 | 3,398 | +1.0% |
| Median household income | $73,558 | $96,605 | +31.3% |
| Median home value | $205,800 | $215,600 | +4.8% |
How Story City 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+)
Story City Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Story County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | 67,669 | $60,991 | 25.4% | $277,400 |
| Nevada | 6,983 | $75,094 | 9.9% | $182,400 |
| Huxley | 4,544 | $112,094 | 4.5% | $297,100 |
| Roland | 1,559 | $79,028 | 1.1% | $185,900 |
| Slater | 1,401 | $97,500 | 3.8% | $232,800 |
| Gilbert | 1,381 | $122,656 | 3.4% | $274,600 |
| Maxwell | 905 | $97,639 | 4.1% | $184,600 |
| Cambridge | 803 | $57,333 | 11.2% | $178,100 |
| Colo | 686 | $64,000 | 6.4% | $152,000 |
| Zearing | 566 | $74,167 | 15.4% | $158,800 |
Cities Similar to Story City
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saylorville | 3,366 | $117,821 | $314,300 | 29.3% | 3.7% |
| Robins | 3,332 | $122,262 | $413,400 | 58.7% | 8.9% |
| Solon | 3,152 | $113,295 | $309,400 | 42.4% | 3.2% |
| Carter Lake | 3,767 | $85,349 | $169,400 | 9.5% | 11.5% |
| Osage | 3,561 | $68,730 | $160,700 | 26.4% | 6.9% |
Population Overview
Story City is a small community located in Iowa, within Story County. The total population is 3,398. It ranks as the 113th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Story City is 38.7 years. This is about the same as the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Story City is $96,605. This is 29% higher than the state median of $75,059. It is also 20% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.6%. This is 14% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $215,600. Housing costs are 4% higher than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Story City is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
Story City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.6%.
Education
44.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Story City in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 40% higher 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 95.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Story City, 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 Story City, Iowa?
Story City, Iowa has a population of 3,398 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Story City, IA?
The median household income in Story City is $96,605, which is 20% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Story City, IA?
The poverty rate in Story City is 12.6%. This means approximately 416 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Story City, Iowa?
Story City's population is 91.3% White, 0.0% Black, 6.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Story City, IA?
The median home value in Story City is $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.2x.
How educated is Story City, Iowa?
44.0% of adults (25+) in Story City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 12.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.