Howard 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 | Howard County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,254 | 3,182,597 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 19.6 | 56.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.05% | 0.40% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.9 | 36.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 3,672 | 1,299,956 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Howard County declined by 0.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 9,459 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Howard County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,350 | $73,286 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.80% | 4.22% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 1.6% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Howard County is about 7% lower than in Iowa.
Housing
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $102,778 | $143,535 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $698 | $948 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 76.6% | 71.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Howard County is about 12.3 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $698 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Howard County spend about 28 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 116 hours, about 4.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 13.9 | 17.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 27.8 | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 116 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,596 | $4,383 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 10.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,346 | 4,993 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 216 | 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 Howard County is 14 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
Howard County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 27.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.52 | 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
Howard County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Howard County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.6 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.8% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.8% | 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 Howard County, Iowa.
What is the population of Howard County, Iowa?
The population of Howard County, Iowa is 9,254, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Howard County, Iowa?
The population density of Howard County, Iowa is 19.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Howard County, Iowa?
The median household income in Howard County, Iowa is $68,350, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Howard County, Iowa?
The median home price in Howard County, Iowa is $102,778, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Howard County, Iowa?
The unemployment rate in Howard County, Iowa is 1.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.