Population 20,694 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Buchanan County
Household size in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.62 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Buchanan County has 2.53 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Even so, the typical household here is bigger than in Iowa overall, where it has 2.43 people. Household size has crept up from 2.50 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.9 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Buchanan County are younger than 40.7 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.3, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the northwest, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Buchanan County than nationally: 10.2%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Iowa. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.6 points, 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 Buchanan County
Renters in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.7% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.9% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Buchanan County is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (44.6%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 4.2 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 Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.3% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Buchanan County: 7.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Buchanan County has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of 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 Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Buchanan County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1963 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $580 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $637 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $667 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $973 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$394 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Buchanan County costs $973 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $394 a month from 2006–10, a 68% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 26.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are 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 Buchanan County
Bachelor's degrees in Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.1% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Buchanan County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 22.2%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 3.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.5% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.6% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Buchanan County is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. Iowa as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma is up 3.1 points from 2006–10, 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 Buchanan County
| Period | Buchanan County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.6% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.2% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Buchanan County has been strong: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Buchanan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County | 2.53 | 40.7 | 10.2% | 17.9% | 7.6% | 1972 | $973 | 22.2% | 93.6% | 2.8% |
| Black Hawk County | 2.37 | 37.0 | 10.5% | 33.8% | 8.2% | 1968 | $1,030 | 32.7% | 93.3% | 4.5% |
| Delaware County | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.3% | 20.4% | 10.4% | 1967 | $739 | 22.3% | 93.3% | 1.7% |
| Grundy County | 2.40 | 42.5 | 7.8% | 15.5% | 6.7% | 1961 | $859 | 28.3% | 96.7% | 1.9% |
| Dubuque County | 2.38 | 40.0 | 7.9% | 26.7% | 6.0% | 1974 | $1,015 | 33.3% | 93.9% | 3.5% |
| Hardin County | 2.32 | 43.8 | 7.8% | 26.4% | 12.3% | 1955 | $770 | 22.6% | 92.8% | 4.8% |
| Jo Daviess County | 2.12 | 50.8 | 8.7% | 19.6% | 17.5% | 1969 | $859 | 28.9% | 93.2% | 3.6% |
| Hamilton County | 2.36 | 42.8 | 8.9% | 26.6% | 9.3% | 1950 | $869 | 22.0% | 94.3% | 5.5% |
| Stephenson County | 2.26 | 46.2 | 11.4% | 29.1% | 9.7% | 1960 | $779 | 21.2% | 92.3% | 4.4% |
| Webster County | 2.25 | 39.2 | 9.8% | 29.7% | 12.3% | 1958 | $797 | 22.0% | 93.5% | 4.9% |
| Calhoun County | 2.30 | 43.9 | 7.7% | 19.5% | 16.2% | 1957 | $743 | 21.8% | 92.9% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Monroe County, AL · Gallia County, OH · Gem County, ID · Geneva County, AL · Goshen County, WY · Green County, KY · Greene County, IL · Greene County, MS · Greene County, NC · Grenada County, MS
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 Buchanan 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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