Tama County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Tama County is located in Iowa with a total population of 16,982. It is the 42nd most populous county out of 99 in Iowa.

Age Demographics

The median age in Tama County is 41.8 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Tama County is $67,955. This is 7% lower than the state median of $73,147. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 40% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $139,900. Housing costs are 29% lower than the state median of $195,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Tama County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 71.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Tama County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.3%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (11.3% vs 7.0%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.4%.

Education

19.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 37% lower 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 91.5%.