Population 7,759 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Decatur County
Household size in Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Decatur County are small: just 2.36 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.43 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.8 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.9 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Decatur County is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 36.9, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has dropped from 40.0 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Of Iowa's 99 counties, only five 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 Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Decatur County: 8.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged up 1.2 points since 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 Decatur County
Renters in Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.7% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.0% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.0% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.3% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About three in ten households in Decatur County rent their homes (30.3%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. More than half of owners (53.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 1.4 points, 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 Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.8% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.9% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.1% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Decatur County: 15.1% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.7 points, mirroring the country.
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 Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +16 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Decatur County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1971, 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 1955 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the east 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 Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $626 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $554 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $571 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $845 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$219 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Decatur County pays $845 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $219 a month since 2006–10, up 35%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 21.0% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the south.
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 Decatur County
Bachelor's degrees in Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.4% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Decatur County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.2%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 5.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the northeast.
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 Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.4% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.1% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Decatur County have finished high school as nationally: 90.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Iowa as a whole (93.0%). The share with a diploma is up 6.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Decatur County
| Period | Decatur County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Decatur County has been low: just 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Decatur 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur County | 2.36 | 36.9 | 8.6% | 30.3% | 15.1% | 1971 | $845 | 24.2% | 90.1% | 1.8% |
| Ringgold County | 2.36 | 45.4 | 6.9% | 21.5% | 21.7% | 1962 | $802 | 24.8% | 93.9% | 3.5% |
| Wayne County | 2.55 | 41.3 | 6.7% | 19.1% | 14.3% | 1967 | $697 | 17.1% | 89.5% | 3.0% |
| Taylor County | 2.35 | 43.6 | 11.1% | 22.1% | 14.4% | 1951 | $802 | 16.7% | 92.4% | 3.0% |
| Appanoose County | 2.37 | 43.5 | 9.9% | 31.2% | 16.8% | 1962 | $794 | 20.4% | 89.6% | 3.8% |
| Page County | 2.27 | 45.2 | 7.5% | 29.5% | 11.7% | 1953 | $685 | 19.4% | 93.2% | 4.7% |
| Davis County | 2.86 | 37.3 | 8.1% | 16.7% | 10.1% | 1971 | $939 | 16.9% | 81.4% | 3.2% |
| Fremont County | 2.27 | 47.2 | 5.4% | 21.7% | 10.2% | 1958 | $766 | 20.8% | 92.9% | 0.8% |
| Van Buren County | 2.54 | 45.9 | 8.9% | 18.4% | 17.5% | 1969 | $655 | 19.3% | 85.1% | 4.5% |
| Otoe County | 2.57 | 42.5 | 8.2% | 17.7% | 8.9% | 1968 | $887 | 26.6% | 93.1% | 2.9% |
| Des Moines County | 2.25 | 41.8 | 12.2% | 25.4% | 9.8% | 1960 | $916 | 23.3% | 93.1% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Niobrara County, WY · Lexington City, VA · Liberty County, FL · Liberty County, MT · Lincoln County, AR · Linn County, MO · Little River County, AR · Livingston County, MO · Long County, GA · Lyon County, KY
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 Decatur 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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