Population 17,558 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Delaware County
Household size in Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.44 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.07 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Delaware 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. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.43, mirroring the country.
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 Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.7 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.5 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.3 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.3, Delaware County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.7, mirroring the country. Delaware County is older than the great majority of Iowa counties.
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 Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.3% of households in Delaware County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.5 points, mirroring the country.
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 Delaware County
Renters in Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.0% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Delaware County is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.4% 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 (43.7%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.4% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Delaware County is close to the national rate: 10.4% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Iowa as a whole (8.8%). Vacancy is up 1.9 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 Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Delaware 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 1961 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $507 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $576 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $628 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $739 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$233 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Delaware County runs $739 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $233 a month since 2006–10, up 46%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.2% 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 Delaware County
Bachelor's degrees in Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.3% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Delaware County: 22.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.9 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the east.
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 Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.5% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.3% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Delaware County is above the national rate: 93.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Iowa. The share with a diploma has risen 1.8 points since 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 Delaware County
| Period | Delaware County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.2% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.7% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Delaware County has been low: just 1.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.8 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Delaware 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware County | 2.36 | 45.3 | 7.3% | 20.4% | 10.4% | 1967 | $739 | 22.3% | 93.3% | 1.7% |
| Buchanan County | 2.53 | 40.7 | 10.2% | 17.9% | 7.6% | 1972 | $973 | 22.2% | 93.6% | 2.8% |
| Dubuque County | 2.38 | 40.0 | 7.9% | 26.7% | 6.0% | 1974 | $1,015 | 33.3% | 93.9% | 3.5% |
| Black Hawk County | 2.37 | 37.0 | 10.5% | 33.8% | 8.2% | 1968 | $1,030 | 32.7% | 93.3% | 4.5% |
| Jo Daviess County | 2.12 | 50.8 | 8.7% | 19.6% | 17.5% | 1969 | $859 | 28.9% | 93.2% | 3.6% |
| Grundy County | 2.40 | 42.5 | 7.8% | 15.5% | 6.7% | 1961 | $859 | 28.3% | 96.7% | 1.9% |
| Stephenson County | 2.26 | 46.2 | 11.4% | 29.1% | 9.7% | 1960 | $779 | 21.2% | 92.3% | 4.4% |
| Hardin County | 2.32 | 43.8 | 7.8% | 26.4% | 12.3% | 1955 | $770 | 22.6% | 92.8% | 4.8% |
| Winnebago County | 2.49 | 40.4 | 13.9% | 34.1% | 8.2% | 1972 | $1,110 | 25.1% | 88.5% | 7.6% |
| Hamilton County | 2.36 | 42.8 | 8.9% | 26.6% | 9.3% | 1950 | $869 | 22.0% | 94.3% | 5.5% |
| Webster County | 2.25 | 39.2 | 9.8% | 29.7% | 12.3% | 1958 | $797 | 22.0% | 93.5% | 4.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Panola County, TX · Oregon County, MO · Osceola County, MI · Otoe County, NE · Ouachita County, AR · Owen County, IN · Owen County, KY · Owyhee County, ID · Ozark County, MO · Pacific County, WA
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 Delaware 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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