Population 698 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Dows
Household size in Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.20 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.15 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.02 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Dows has 2.50 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. That is in line with the rest of Iowa.
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 Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.9 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.3 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
At 40.4, the median age in Dows is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has dropped from 43.9 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.7% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.6% of households in Dows, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Dows
Renters in Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.9% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.0% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.1% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.4% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Dows 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. Among homeowners, 56.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.8% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 23.7% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 30.1% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +8.8 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Dows: 30.1% 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.
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 Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1938 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1939 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1938 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1947 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +6 |
Dows is a place of older homes: half were built before 1947, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $456 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $523 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $555 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $683 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$227 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Dows runs $683 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 33.0% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Dows
Bachelor's degrees in Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.7 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Dows: 22.2% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.3% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.2% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.8% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Dows: 94.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Dows
| Period | Dows | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Dows has been low: just 1.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Dows compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dows | 2.50 | 40.4 | 8.6% | 20.4% | 30.1% | 1947 | $683 | 22.2% | 94.8% | 1.2% |
| Popejoy | 2.58 | 46.3 | 7.4% | 19.2% | 20.8% | 1939 | $707 | 25.8% | 95.7% | 1.1% |
| Rowan | 2.50 | 40.2 | 8.5% | 20.7% | 29.0% | 1948 | $683 | 22.5% | 94.3% | 1.2% |
| Galt | 2.37 | 37.4 | 7.7% | 25.9% | 23.1% | 1955 | $724 | 21.7% | 88.7% | 1.1% |
| Coulter | 2.68 | 41.7 | 7.6% | 22.3% | 19.6% | 1942 | $731 | 25.3% | 92.8% | 1.2% |
| Latimer | 2.80 | 34.4 | 4.6% | 34.4% | 13.2% | 1954 | $926 | 24.5% | 86.2% | 1.0% |
| Alexander | 2.72 | 40.7 | 8.2% | 21.6% | 12.7% | 1945 | $650 | 28.8% | 90.9% | 1.5% |
| Williams | 2.30 | 46.7 | 7.0% | 21.7% | 13.1% | 1941 | $764 | 22.9% | 96.0% | 2.6% |
| Alden | 2.30 | 45.7 | 5.1% | 25.6% | 13.0% | 1958 | $679 | 18.3% | 92.2% | 1.4% |
| Burdette | 2.39 | 40.8 | 5.9% | 27.9% | 13.3% | 1959 | $718 | 22.8% | 92.7% | 3.6% |
| Clarion | 2.08 | 44.2 | 5.7% | 27.3% | 14.0% | 1965 | $749 | 27.6% | 89.6% | 2.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Cologne, VA · Westfir, OR · East Salem, WV · Eagleville, MO · Dupree, SD · Dixie, WA · White Hall, WV · White Lake, NY · Davis Station, SC · Daleville, 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 Dows. 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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