Population 26,668 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Boone County
Household size in Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Boone County has 2.41 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Iowa as a whole looks much the same.
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 Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.0 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.7 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Boone County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.7, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 41.4 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the north, the oldest in the south.
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 Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.5% of households in Boone County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 0.8 points from 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 Boone County
Renters in Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.7% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.9% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.0% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Boone County is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a third of owners (36.8%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 4.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Boone County as nationally: 8.7%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 0.6 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 Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Boone County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1961, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1953 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
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 Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $589 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $695 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $825 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $930 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$340 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Boone County runs $930 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $340 a month since 2006–10, up 58%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the northwest.
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 Boone County
Bachelor's degrees in Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.8% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.6% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.5% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.5% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.7 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in Boone County (28.5%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast 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 Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.3% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.0% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.1% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Boone County: 95.1% 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 2.8 points, as it has nationally.
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 Boone County
| Period | Boone County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.0% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Boone County has been strong: just 1.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only six of Iowa's 99 counties have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, 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).
Boone 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boone County | 2.41 | 42.7 | 8.5% | 20.0% | 8.7% | 1961 | $930 | 28.5% | 95.1% | 1.5% |
| Story County | 2.36 | 33.8 | 5.1% | 44.5% | 9.3% | 1983 | $1,026 | 58.0% | 96.8% | 4.3% |
| Greene County | 2.19 | 45.9 | 8.1% | 23.6% | 10.1% | 1952 | $822 | 21.3% | 93.5% | 2.2% |
| Marshall County | 2.58 | 39.8 | 10.7% | 25.0% | 9.5% | 1957 | $1,039 | 22.6% | 86.1% | 4.2% |
| Carroll County | 2.33 | 41.9 | 7.9% | 22.9% | 8.8% | 1960 | $809 | 24.2% | 95.3% | 1.8% |
| Tama County | 2.47 | 42.6 | 13.3% | 24.0% | 11.8% | 1959 | $870 | 19.9% | 91.6% | 4.5% |
| Crawford County | 2.51 | 40.3 | 18.5% | 24.0% | 8.3% | 1960 | $732 | 17.7% | 83.2% | 3.9% |
| Benton County | 2.53 | 43.2 | 9.7% | 15.0% | 7.7% | 1967 | $843 | 25.7% | 95.3% | 1.9% |
| Monona County | 2.21 | 45.5 | 8.9% | 24.3% | 11.9% | 1954 | $885 | 19.9% | 91.8% | 1.6% |
| Linn County | 2.44 | 39.6 | 11.3% | 26.5% | 8.3% | 1980 | $1,057 | 34.2% | 94.8% | 3.4% |
| Thurston County | 3.29 | 30.0 | 18.8% | 39.0% | 13.3% | 1967 | $728 | 21.6% | 93.6% | 10.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yabucoa Municipio, PR · Alpena County, MI · Alcorn County, MS · Fulton County, IL · Glenn County, CA · Wythe County, VA · Dunklin County, MO · Franklin County, AL · Floyd County, KY · Jackson County, OH
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 Boone 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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