Walnut, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Walnut, Iowa had a total population of 1,342, the 234th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $62,500, which is 17% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x.
Walnut Quick Facts
How Walnut 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 | 1,339 | 1,342 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $65,278 | $62,500 | -4.3% |
| Median home value | $97,900 | $115,900 | +18.4% |
How Walnut 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+)
Walnut Rankings in Iowa
Explore Iowa Rankings
Other Cities in Pottawattamie County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Bluffs | 62,586 | $64,578 | 15.1% | $171,800 |
| Carter Lake | 3,767 | $85,349 | 11.5% | $169,400 |
| Avoca | 1,444 | $73,056 | 7.0% | $173,800 |
| Oakland | 1,408 | $81,354 | 14.2% | $160,200 |
| Treynor | 1,126 | $121,696 | 5.1% | $263,500 |
| Neola | 1,116 | $73,306 | 6.1% | $205,100 |
| Underwood | 898 | $105,341 | 3.3% | $253,500 |
| Carson | 834 | $73,403 | 8.3% | $181,400 |
| Minden | 630 | $109,167 | 2.4% | $170,500 |
| Crescent | 549 | $116,042 | 0.4% | $283,900 |
Cities Similar to Walnut
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | 1,336 | $60,781 | $96,800 | 14.5% | 10.0% |
| Sanborn | 1,323 | $59,417 | $168,500 | 23.8% | 13.5% |
| Elkader | 1,293 | $62,857 | $143,200 | 26.0% | 9.6% |
| Greene | 1,339 | $56,335 | $120,700 | 29.7% | 17.3% |
| Montezuma | 1,410 | $65,660 | $179,400 | 19.3% | 12.5% |
Population Overview
Walnut is a small community located in Iowa, within Pottawattamie County. The total population is 1,342. It ranks as the 234th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in Walnut is 67.3 years. This is 74% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 13.0% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 33.3% 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 Walnut is $62,500. This is 17% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $115,900. Housing costs are 44% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Walnut is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
Walnut has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.5% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.4%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.4%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.
Education
14.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 55% 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 88.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Walnut, 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 Walnut, Iowa?
Walnut, Iowa has a population of 1,342 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Walnut, IA?
The median household income in Walnut is $62,500, which is 23% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Walnut, IA?
The poverty rate in Walnut is 12.4%. This means approximately 87 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Walnut, Iowa?
Walnut's population is 95.5% White, 0.7% Black, 3.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Walnut, IA?
The median home value in Walnut is $115,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.9x.
How educated is Walnut, Iowa?
14.1% of adults (25+) in Walnut hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.