What Cheer, Iowa Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, What Cheer, Iowa had a total population of 580, the 434th largest city in Iowa, with a median household income of $48,182, which is 36% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 21.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 36% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x.
- Unemployment rate of 8.2% is notably above the national average.
What Cheer Quick Facts
How What Cheer 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 | 634 | 580 | -8.5% |
| Median household income | $49,688 | $48,182 | -3.0% |
| Median home value | $47,900 | $49,200 | +2.7% |
How What Cheer 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+)
What Cheer 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 |
| 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 |
| Webster | 134 | $34,773 | 4.5% | $83,300 |
Cities Similar to What Cheer
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swea City | 591 | $47,656 | $56,400 | 15.2% | 27.0% |
| Emerson | 570 | $49,063 | $119,500 | 9.9% | 15.1% |
| Brighton | 588 | $50,481 | $92,900 | 8.1% | 29.7% |
| Seymour | 594 | $46,071 | $86,800 | 14.8% | 13.5% |
| Charter Oak | 580 | $53,042 | $77,700 | 7.6% | 7.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 580, What Cheer'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
What Cheer is a small community located in Iowa, within Keokuk County. The total population is 580. It ranks as the 434th most populous out of 1,017 Census-designated places in Iowa.
Age Demographics
The median age in What Cheer is 44.0 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in What Cheer is $48,182. This is 36% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.2%. This is 91% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 8.2%. This is 129% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $49,200. Housing costs are 76% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.0x, What Cheer is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 71.7%.
Race & Ethnicity
What Cheer has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.6%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.6%) is well below the state average of 7.3%.
Education
14.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% 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 92.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for What Cheer, 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 What Cheer, Iowa?
What Cheer, Iowa has a population of 580 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in What Cheer, IA?
The median household income in What Cheer is $48,182, which is 40% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in What Cheer, IA?
The poverty rate in What Cheer is 21.2%. This means approximately 123 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of What Cheer, Iowa?
What Cheer's population is 92.4% White, 0.9% Black, 3.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in What Cheer, IA?
The median home value in What Cheer is $49,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.0x.
How educated is What Cheer, Iowa?
14.5% of adults (25+) in What Cheer hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.