Swaledale, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 148, Swaledale'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

Swaledale is a small community located in Iowa, within Cerro Gordo County. The total population is 148. It ranks as the 768th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Swaledale is 56.0 years. This is 45% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 14.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.2% 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 Swaledale is $51,912. This is 31% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.7%. This is 57% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 9.9%. This is 176% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $62,900. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.2x, Swaledale is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Swaledale has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 85.8% of all residents.

Education

1.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 95% 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 97.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Swaledale, 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.