Wapello County, Iowa Demographics 2026
Wapello County, Iowa has a population of 35,362, the 20th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $64,766 and the median home value is $125,100. The poverty rate is 15.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Wapello County Quick Facts
How Wapello County 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 | 35,265 | 35,362 | +0.3% |
| Median household income | $60,034 | $64,766 | +7.9% |
| Median home value | $112,900 | $125,100 | +10.8% |
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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 31 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Wapello County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottumwa | 25,430 | $61,103 | 17.2% | $106,300 |
| Eddyville | 1,163 | $61,480 | 14.5% | $104,200 |
| Eldon | 726 | $47,917 | 20.9% | $60,600 |
| Agency | 435 | $67,813 | 8.1% | $157,300 |
| Blakesburg | 310 | $51,000 | 21.8% | $85,900 |
| Kirkville | 266 | $58,750 | 8.6% | $93,300 |
| Chillicothe | 83 | $75,750 | 6.0% | $85,000 |
Explore Iowa Rankings
Population Overview
Wapello County is located in Iowa with a total population of 35,362. It is the 20th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wapello County is 39.2 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wapello County is $64,766. This is 14% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 20% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.8%. This is 43% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $125,100. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Wapello County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 68.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Wapello County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (13.4% vs 7.3%).
Education
19.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 88.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Wapello County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Iowa and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Wapello County, Iowa?
Wapello County has a population of 35,362, making it the 20th most populous county in Iowa.
What is the median income in Wapello County?
The median household income in Wapello County is $64,766 with a poverty rate of 15.8%.
How many cities are in Wapello County, Iowa?
Wapello County contains 7 Census-designated places.