Story County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Story County is located in Iowa with a total population of 98,592. It is the 9th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Story County is 27.0 years. This is 30% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Story County is $69,006. This is 6% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 12% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.6%. This is 69% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $243,600. Housing costs are 24% higher than the state median of $195,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 56.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% lower than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Story County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.4% of the population. Asian residents account for 6.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.8% vs 2.4%).

Education

53.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Story County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 73% 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 97.1%. Notably, 22.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.