Thornburg, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Thornburg, Iowa had a total population of 55, the 934th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $39,861, which is 47% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 47% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- 38.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Iowa.
- Unemployment rate of 15.4% is notably above the national average.
Thornburg Quick Facts
How Thornburg 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 | 43 | 55 | +27.9% |
| Median household income | $39,821 | $39,861 | +0.1% |
How Thornburg 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+)
Thornburg Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Keokuk County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigourney | 1,954 | $57,813 | 14.8% | $136,800 |
| Hedrick | 913 | $67,500 | 22.3% | $79,600 |
| What Cheer | 580 | $48,182 | 21.2% | $49,200 |
| Richland | 544 | $60,446 | 10.9% | $135,700 |
| Delta | 363 | $52,083 | 12.2% | $48,100 |
| South English | 260 | $51,016 | 13.9% | $97,000 |
| Keswick | 255 | $63,750 | 6.7% | $89,200 |
| Ollie | 238 | $71,875 | 18.1% | $89,400 |
| Kinross | 171 | $73,438 | 10.2% | $73,100 |
| Harper | 155 | $100,417 | 7.7% | $99,200 |
Cities Similar to Thornburg
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swan | 55 | N/A | N/A | 17.8% | 10.9% |
| Toeterville | 56 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 71.4% |
| Hayesville | 52 | N/A | $69,000 | 11.4% | 32.7% |
| Loveland | 52 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Downey | 59 | N/A | N/A | 18.6% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 55, Thornburg'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
Thornburg is a small community located in Iowa, within Keokuk County. The total population is 55. It ranks as the 934th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Thornburg is 60.4 years. This is 56% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 3.6% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Thornburg is $39,861. This is 47% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 51% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.7%. This is 15% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 15.4%. This is 330% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 39% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Thornburg is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 16.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (16.4% vs 7.3%).
Education
38.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Thornburg in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 21% higher than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Thornburg, 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 Thornburg, Iowa?
Thornburg, Iowa has a population of 55 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Thornburg, IA?
The median household income in Thornburg is $39,861, which is 51% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Thornburg, IA?
The poverty rate in Thornburg is 12.7%. This means approximately 7 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Thornburg, Iowa?
Thornburg's population is 83.6% White, 0.0% Black, 16.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Thornburg, IA?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Thornburg — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Thornburg, Iowa?
38.0% of adults (25+) in Thornburg hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.