Iowa Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
State Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Iowa | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,182,597 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 56.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.40% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 36.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,299,956 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Iowa grew by 12.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 3,190,545 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Iowa has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Iowa | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $73,286 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.22% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Iowa is about 6% lower than in US.
Housing
| Metric | Iowa | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $143,535 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $948 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 71.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Iowa is about 12.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $948 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Iowa spend about 34 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 141 hours, about 5.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Iowa | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,383 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,993 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 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 Iowa is 17 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in US.
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
Iowa has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Iowa | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 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
Iowa has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Iowa | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 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 Iowa.
What is the population of Iowa?
The population of Iowa is 3,182,597, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Iowa?
The population density of Iowa is 56.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Iowa?
The median household income in Iowa is $73,286, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Iowa?
The median home price in Iowa is $143,535, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Iowa?
The unemployment rate in Iowa is 3.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.