Buena Vista County, IA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,082 | 3,182,597 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 34.6 | 56.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.18% | 0.40% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 36.3 | 36.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 7,543 | 1,299,956 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Buena Vista County grew by 5.7% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 20,684 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Buena Vista County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,074 | $73,286 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.19% | 4.22% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Buena Vista County is about 10% lower than in Iowa.
Housing
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $325,000 | $143,535 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $835 | $948 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.5% | 71.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Buena Vista County is about 32.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $835 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Buena Vista County spend about 22 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 94 hours, about 3.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 11.2 | 17.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 22.5 | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 94 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $2,905 | $4,383 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 10.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,449 | 4,993 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 302 | 606 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Iowa:
Cass County (8.9 min), Sioux County (10.0 min), Carroll County (10.7 min).
Slowest:
Monroe County (27.8 min), Madison County (27.3 min), Harrison County (27.0 min).
The average commute time in Buena Vista County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Iowa.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Buena Vista County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 27.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.61 | 2.37 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Iowa:
Johnson County (0.4), Dallas County (0.4), Story County (0.4).
Lowest:
Crawford County (0.2), Wayne County (0.2), Louisa County (0.2).
Health
Buena Vista County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Buena Vista County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.1 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 15.0% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.2% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Iowa:
Johnson County (0.8), Story County (0.8), Winneshiek County (0.8).
Lowest:
Davis County (0.8), Wayne County (0.8), Appanoose County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Buena Vista County, Iowa.
What is the population of Buena Vista County, Iowa?
The population of Buena Vista County, Iowa is 20,082, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Buena Vista County, Iowa?
The population density of Buena Vista County, Iowa is 34.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Buena Vista County, Iowa?
The median household income in Buena Vista County, Iowa is $66,074, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Buena Vista County, Iowa?
The median home price in Buena Vista County, Iowa is $325,000, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Buena Vista County, Iowa?
The unemployment rate in Buena Vista County, Iowa is 5.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.