O'Brien 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 | O'Brien County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,801 | 3,182,597 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 24.1 | 56.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.05% | 0.40% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.6 | 36.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,791 | 1,299,956 | 128,459,983 |
Population in O'Brien County grew by 25.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 14,103 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
O'Brien County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | O'Brien County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $68,801 | $73,286 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.68% | 4.22% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 1.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in O'Brien County is about 6% lower than in Iowa.
Housing
| Metric | O'Brien County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $78,553 | $143,535 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $770 | $948 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.3% | 71.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in O'Brien County is about 8.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $770 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in O'Brien County spend about 27 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 114 hours, about 4.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | O'Brien County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 13.7 | 17.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 27.4 | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 114 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,540 | $4,383 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 10.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,600 | 4,993 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 319 | 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 O'Brien 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
O'Brien County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | O'Brien County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 27.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.36 | 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
O'Brien County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | O'Brien County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.7 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 14.1% | 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 O'Brien County, Iowa.
What is the population of O'Brien County, Iowa?
The population of O'Brien County, Iowa is 13,801, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of O'Brien County, Iowa?
The population density of O'Brien County, Iowa is 24.1 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in O'Brien County, Iowa?
The median household income in O'Brien County, Iowa is $68,801, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in O'Brien County, Iowa?
The median home price in O'Brien County, Iowa is $78,553, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in O'Brien County, Iowa?
The unemployment rate in O'Brien County, Iowa is 1.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.