Mills 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 | Mills County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,757 | 3,182,597 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 33.5 | 56.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.27% | 0.40% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.2 | 36.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,349 | 1,299,956 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Mills County declined by 3.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 14,562 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Mills County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Mills County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $87,568 | $73,286 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.94% | 4.22% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Mills County is about 19% higher than in Iowa.
Housing
| Metric | Mills County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $172,499 | $143,535 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $887 | $948 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 84.2% | 71.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Mills County is about 16.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $887 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Mills County spend about 52 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 215 hours, about 8.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Mills County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 25.8 | 17.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 51.5 | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 215 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $6,655 | $4,383 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 10.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,554 | 4,993 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 709 | 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 Mills County is 26 minutes, longer 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
Mills County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Mills County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.7% | 27.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.64 | 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
Mills County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Mills County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.3 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.3% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.4% | 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 Mills County, Iowa.
What is the population of Mills County, Iowa?
The population of Mills County, Iowa is 14,757, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Mills County, Iowa?
The population density of Mills County, Iowa is 33.5 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Mills County, Iowa?
The median household income in Mills County, Iowa is $87,568, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Mills County, Iowa?
The median home price in Mills County, Iowa is $172,499, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Mills County, Iowa?
The unemployment rate in Mills County, Iowa is 2.7%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.