Population 18,349 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cedar County
Household size in Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Cedar County run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of Iowa. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the west.
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 Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.4 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.6 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.8 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Cedar County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.4, in line with the national trend.
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 Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Cedar County than nationally: 10.1%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Iowa. Compared with other Iowa counties, though, Cedar County has a higher share of single-parent households than most.
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 Cedar County
Renters in Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.5% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.7% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.8% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Cedar County is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (40.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. The renter share has fallen 2.0 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 Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Cedar County is close to the national rate: 9.2% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy is up 2.6 points from 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 Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 | +6 |
Cedar County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, 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 1956 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, 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 Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $621 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $699 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $728 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $916 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$295 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Cedar County pays $916 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $295 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 28.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Cedar County
Bachelor's degrees in Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.1% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Cedar County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 23.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 5.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest 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 Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.1% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.0% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.8% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Cedar County: 95.8% 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 3.8 points, mirroring the country. Only nine of Iowa's 99 counties have a higher 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 Cedar County
| Period | Cedar County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.7% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.6% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Cedar County has been strong: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.5 points from 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).
Cedar 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar County | 2.42 | 44.8 | 10.1% | 18.5% | 9.2% | 1967 | $916 | 23.7% | 95.8% | 2.2% |
| Johnson County | 2.40 | 34.6 | 6.9% | 40.6% | 7.5% | 1989 | $1,205 | 55.7% | 96.1% | 3.8% |
| Clinton County | 2.39 | 43.0 | 11.7% | 25.5% | 9.4% | 1959 | $930 | 23.2% | 93.6% | 3.5% |
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 43.5 | 9.6% | 23.4% | 5.9% | 1967 | $775 | 25.3% | 95.4% | 1.7% |
| Whiteside County | 2.38 | 43.6 | 12.5% | 23.1% | 11.5% | 1961 | $937 | 20.3% | 91.9% | 4.4% |
| Poweshiek County | 2.19 | 41.2 | 7.2% | 28.8% | 11.7% | 1965 | $881 | 28.4% | 94.7% | 3.5% |
| Lee County | 2.38 | 43.7 | 10.7% | 26.4% | 11.5% | 1963 | $912 | 19.7% | 91.8% | 5.2% |
| Jasper County | 2.44 | 41.6 | 10.4% | 27.7% | 9.6% | 1964 | $870 | 20.3% | 94.1% | 7.2% |
| Polk County | 2.51 | 37.0 | 12.0% | 32.6% | 6.9% | 1981 | $1,241 | 40.5% | 91.7% | 5.0% |
| Dallas County | 2.59 | 36.9 | 8.1% | 31.0% | 5.9% | 2000 | $1,300 | 52.3% | 95.5% | 2.3% |
| Kendall County | 3.09 | 36.4 | 12.2% | 16.0% | 3.9% | 1997 | $1,934 | 36.6% | 94.1% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Iron County, MO · Otsego County, MI · Osceola County, MI · Osage County, MO · Orleans County, VT · Orange County, IN · Ohio County, KY · Oglala Lakota County, SD · Oceana County, MI · Noxubee 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 Cedar 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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