Population 17,990 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Dickinson County
Household size in Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.04 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.14 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.09 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.04 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Dickinson County are small: just 2.04 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. No other Iowa county has smaller households.
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 Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.1 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.5 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 49.0 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Dickinson County skews older: half of its residents are older than 49.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 47.1 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Dickinson County has the oldest population of any Iowa county.
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 Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.3% of households in Dickinson County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only two of Iowa's 99 counties have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Dickinson County
Renters in Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.7% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.6% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.6% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.5% of households in Dickinson County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 44.4% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.9 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 Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.4% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 30.6% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.3% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 25.3% of the housing in Dickinson County, 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. No other Iowa county has a higher vacancy rate.
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 Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1978 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Dickinson County was built around 1978, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in Iowa overall, where the median home dates to 1971. The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only seven of Iowa's 99 counties have newer homes.
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 Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $513 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $619 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $840 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $956 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$443 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Dickinson County runs $956 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $443 a month since 2006–10, up 86%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 28.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the west.
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 Dickinson County
Bachelor's degrees in Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.9% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.7% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.6% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Dickinson County than nationally: 30.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. That is in line with the rest of Iowa. The share with a degree is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.2% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.9% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.0% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Dickinson County: 97.0% 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, as it has nationally. Dickinson County has the highest share of high school graduates of any Iowa county.
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 Dickinson County
| Period | Dickinson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Dickinson County has been strong: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.3 points from 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).
Dickinson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickinson County | 2.04 | 49.0 | 5.3% | 22.5% | 25.3% | 1978 | $956 | 30.6% | 97.0% | 3.1% |
| Emmet County | 2.16 | 43.1 | 9.7% | 20.6% | 11.0% | 1953 | $745 | 16.4% | 89.1% | 1.6% |
| Osceola County | 2.32 | 45.6 | 10.0% | 22.1% | 8.9% | 1954 | $781 | 17.5% | 88.3% | 3.6% |
| Lyon County | 2.77 | 38.1 | 5.7% | 19.1% | 9.0% | 1967 | $801 | 20.4% | 95.4% | 2.2% |
| Winnebago County | 2.19 | 42.9 | 10.2% | 29.4% | 9.6% | 1960 | $699 | 26.0% | 94.8% | 3.0% |
| Lincoln County | 2.56 | 35.9 | 10.8% | 28.8% | 3.6% | 2002 | $1,270 | 46.6% | 96.8% | 1.5% |
| Worth County | 2.30 | 46.0 | 6.6% | 16.8% | 9.7% | 1946 | $796 | 19.0% | 93.6% | 3.8% |
| Turner County | 2.47 | 40.9 | 8.2% | 21.0% | 7.7% | 1960 | $772 | 26.7% | 93.2% | 2.1% |
| Mitchell County | 2.30 | 41.5 | 6.1% | 20.0% | 7.1% | 1956 | $733 | 24.7% | 93.1% | 1.1% |
| Hutchinson County | 2.45 | 42.1 | 6.8% | 22.7% | 11.3% | 1962 | $710 | 31.3% | 94.2% | 1.3% |
| Howard County | 2.47 | 40.8 | 11.9% | 22.6% | 12.9% | 1955 | $703 | 18.9% | 92.4% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pike County, MO · Lewis County, NY · Perry County, IL · Perry County, IN · Phelps County, NE · Phillips County, AR · Piatt County, IL · Pickens County, AL · Pierce County, GA · Pike County, AR
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 Dickinson 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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