Population 20,753 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Buena Vista County
Household size in Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.54 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.54 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.67 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.13 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Buena Vista County average 2.67 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in Iowa as a whole, where it has 2.43 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.54, even as the national average fell. Few Iowa counties have larger households: only four of 99.
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 Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.8 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.9 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.9 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Buena Vista County is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.0, mirroring the country. Only three of Iowa's 99 counties are younger.
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 Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.7% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Buena Vista County (10.7%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Buena Vista County has a higher share of single-parent households than most Iowa counties.
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 Buena Vista County
Renters in Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.7% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.8% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.4% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.8% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Buena Vista County own their homes; 26.8% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (44.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast. The renter share is down 3.9 points from 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 Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Buena Vista County is close to the national rate: 8.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has edged up 0.7 points since 2006–10, 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 Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Buena Vista County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, 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 1954 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the northeast 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 Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $574 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $605 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $707 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $926 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$352 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Buena Vista County costs $926 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $352 a month since 2006–10, up 61%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 23.3% 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 southwest and lowest in the north.
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 Buena Vista County
Bachelor's degrees in Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.2% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.8% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Buena Vista County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.0% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.7% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 76.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 80.6% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Buena Vista County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 80.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other Iowa county has a lower share of high school graduates.
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 Buena Vista County
| Period | Buena Vista County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.5% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Buena Vista County is close to the national rate: 5.3% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Iowa overall (3.7%). Unemployment is up 1.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Buena Vista 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista County | 2.67 | 36.9 | 10.7% | 26.8% | 8.7% | 1964 | $926 | 21.7% | 80.6% | 5.3% |
| Cherokee County | 2.26 | 45.1 | 6.8% | 24.5% | 9.3% | 1957 | $750 | 24.5% | 93.2% | 2.5% |
| Pocahontas County | 2.31 | 43.4 | 7.2% | 22.7% | 17.4% | 1950 | $801 | 19.0% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Humboldt County | 2.25 | 43.3 | 13.3% | 22.8% | 9.1% | 1959 | $798 | 19.5% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
| Plymouth County | 2.49 | 41.9 | 8.8% | 26.4% | 6.0% | 1970 | $891 | 21.6% | 94.6% | 2.3% |
| Union County | 2.33 | 41.0 | 7.4% | 26.9% | 4.2% | 1989 | $1,078 | 37.7% | 96.0% | 3.1% |
| Wright County | 2.41 | 40.1 | 13.4% | 23.0% | 14.6% | 1960 | $845 | 24.6% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Franklin County | 2.35 | 45.8 | 10.2% | 27.6% | 10.9% | 1950 | $730 | 19.5% | 90.2% | 3.6% |
| Cedar County | 2.38 | 43.7 | 5.3% | 20.4% | 12.1% | 1963 | $710 | 23.7% | 96.4% | 1.7% |
| Butler County | 2.41 | 44.2 | 7.0% | 15.9% | 10.9% | 1957 | $743 | 21.5% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Knox County | 2.42 | 44.7 | 8.5% | 21.6% | 23.5% | 1963 | $634 | 18.9% | 92.5% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Montgomery County, IL · Dukes County, MA · Dunklin County, MO · East Feliciana Parish, LA · Fayette County, OH · Floyd County, VA · Greene County, IN · Gunnison County, CO · Hocking County, OH · Minidoka County, ID
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 Buena Vista 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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