Population 131,049 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Black Hawk County
Household size in Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Black Hawk County is a place of small households, averaging 2.37 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The picture is much the same across Iowa. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.40, mirroring the country.
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 Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.3 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.1 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.0 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Black Hawk County is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.0, against 40.1 nationally. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the east. Few Iowa counties are younger: only six of 99.
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 Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Black Hawk County (10.5%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Iowa. The single-parent share has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Black Hawk County
Renters in Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.0% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.7% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Black Hawk County is about as common as it is nationally: 33.8% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Iowa overall (28.3%). Among homeowners, 39.3% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Black Hawk County as nationally: 8.2%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.5 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1962 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Black Hawk County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1968, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1962 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the center.
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 Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $675 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $728 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $857 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,030 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$354 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Black Hawk County costs $1,030 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $354 a month from 2006–10, a 53% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.8% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the south; the highest are in the west.
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 Black Hawk County
Bachelor's degrees in Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.0% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.8% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.2% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Black Hawk County (32.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the north.
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 Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.3% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.1% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.4% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Black Hawk County is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Iowa. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points, mirroring the country.
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 Black Hawk County
| Period | Black Hawk County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.7% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Black Hawk County than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. Still, the rate is higher than in Iowa as a whole (3.7%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.3 points, as it has nationally.
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).
Black Hawk 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Hawk County | 2.37 | 37.0 | 10.5% | 33.8% | 8.2% | 1968 | $1,030 | 32.7% | 93.3% | 4.5% |
| Grundy County | 2.40 | 42.5 | 7.8% | 15.5% | 6.7% | 1961 | $859 | 28.3% | 96.7% | 1.9% |
| Buchanan County | 2.53 | 40.7 | 10.2% | 17.9% | 7.6% | 1972 | $973 | 22.2% | 93.6% | 2.8% |
| Hardin County | 2.32 | 43.8 | 7.8% | 26.4% | 12.3% | 1955 | $770 | 22.6% | 92.8% | 4.8% |
| Delaware County | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.3% | 20.4% | 10.4% | 1967 | $739 | 22.3% | 93.3% | 1.7% |
| Hamilton County | 2.36 | 42.8 | 8.9% | 26.6% | 9.3% | 1950 | $869 | 22.0% | 94.3% | 5.5% |
| Dubuque County | 2.38 | 40.0 | 7.9% | 26.7% | 6.0% | 1974 | $1,015 | 33.3% | 93.9% | 3.5% |
| Webster County | 2.25 | 39.2 | 9.8% | 29.7% | 12.3% | 1958 | $797 | 22.0% | 93.5% | 4.9% |
| Jo Daviess County | 2.12 | 50.8 | 8.7% | 19.6% | 17.5% | 1969 | $859 | 28.9% | 93.2% | 3.6% |
| Calhoun County | 2.30 | 43.9 | 7.7% | 19.5% | 16.2% | 1957 | $743 | 21.8% | 92.9% | 2.4% |
| Sac County | 2.22 | 46.7 | 8.4% | 22.0% | 15.2% | 1954 | $737 | 22.1% | 92.7% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Humboldt County, CA · Cache County, UT · Napa County, CA · Brunswick County, NC · Linn County, OR · Cochise County, AZ · Calhoun County, MI · Hampton City, VA · Tazewell County, IL · Ponce Municipio, PR
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 Black Hawk 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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