Population 25,724 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Benton County
Household size in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Benton County run a little small, averaging 2.53 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Even so, the typical household here is bigger than in Iowa as a whole, where it has 2.43 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.57, in line with the national trend.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.4 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.1 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Benton County is 43.2 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.2, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Benton County than nationally: 9.7%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Iowa. The single-parent share has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Benton County
Renters in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.1% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.2% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.0% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Benton County is largely a place of homeowners: only 15.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. The renter share has fallen 4.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Benton County has the lowest share of renters of any Iowa county.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Benton County: 7.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Benton County has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Iowa counties.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Benton County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1967, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the west has the oldest housing. Compared with other Iowa counties, though, Benton County has newer homes than most.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $624 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $653 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $669 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $843 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$219 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Benton County runs $843 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $219 a month since 2006–10, up 35%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 24.7% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Benton County
Bachelor's degrees in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.1% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.3% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a quarter of adults 25 and older in Benton County (25.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Compared with other Iowa counties, though, Benton County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.8% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.1% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.3% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.3% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Benton County: 95.3% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.5 points, mirroring the country. Benton County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Iowa counties.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Benton County
| Period | Benton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Benton County has been strong: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Benton County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benton County | 2.53 | 43.2 | 9.7% | 15.0% | 7.7% | 1967 | $843 | 25.7% | 95.3% | 1.9% |
| Linn County | 2.44 | 39.6 | 11.3% | 26.5% | 8.3% | 1980 | $1,057 | 34.2% | 94.8% | 3.4% |
| Tama County | 2.47 | 42.6 | 13.3% | 24.0% | 11.8% | 1959 | $870 | 19.9% | 91.6% | 4.5% |
| Jones County | 2.43 | 42.9 | 13.3% | 19.4% | 7.8% | 1968 | $846 | 22.0% | 95.3% | 4.4% |
| Marshall County | 2.58 | 39.8 | 10.7% | 25.0% | 9.5% | 1957 | $1,039 | 22.6% | 86.1% | 4.2% |
| Jackson County | 2.39 | 45.4 | 6.3% | 19.3% | 11.0% | 1965 | $853 | 19.1% | 94.3% | 5.5% |
| Story County | 2.36 | 33.8 | 5.1% | 44.5% | 9.3% | 1983 | $1,026 | 58.0% | 96.8% | 4.3% |
| Boone County | 2.41 | 42.7 | 8.5% | 20.0% | 8.7% | 1961 | $930 | 28.5% | 95.1% | 1.5% |
| Carroll County | 2.18 | 46.7 | 8.1% | 22.8% | 18.7% | 1959 | $836 | 18.3% | 89.0% | 2.8% |
| Greene County | 2.19 | 45.9 | 8.1% | 23.6% | 10.1% | 1952 | $822 | 21.3% | 93.5% | 2.2% |
| Ogle County | 2.48 | 42.7 | 9.6% | 24.6% | 9.1% | 1973 | $946 | 24.3% | 91.2% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pine County, MN · San Juan County, WA · Saluda County, SC · Potter County, PA · Polk County, MO · Polk County, AR · Dallas County, MO · Plumas County, CA · Plaquemines Parish, LA · Piscataquis County, ME
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Benton County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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