Population 9,262 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Emmet County
Household size in Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.31 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.12 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.16 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Emmet County are small: just 2.16 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 dropped from 2.31, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only three of Iowa's 99 counties have 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 Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.6 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.1 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Emmet County is 43.1 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.7, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the east.
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 Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Emmet County (9.7%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Iowa as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share is up 0.7 points from 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 Emmet County
Renters in Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.6% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.9% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.6% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 20.6% of households in Emmet County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. More than four in ten owners (45.5%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the south. The renter share is down 2.8 points from 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 Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Emmet County as nationally: 11.0%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Iowa overall (8.8%).
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 Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1951 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1952 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1953 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +6 |
Emmet County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1953, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Emmet County has older homes than at least four in five Iowa counties.
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 Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $561 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $602 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $671 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $745 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$185 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Emmet County costs $745 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $185 a month since 2006–10, up 33%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the east.
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 Emmet County
Bachelor's degrees in Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.7% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.2% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Emmet County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.4%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Few Iowa counties have a lower share of college graduates: only three of 99.
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 Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.4% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.4% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Emmet County have finished high school as nationally: 89.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Iowa overall (93.0%). The share with a diploma has risen 2.7 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Emmet County
| Period | Emmet County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.6% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Emmet County has been strong: just 1.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only eight of Iowa's 99 counties have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Emmet 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emmet County | 2.16 | 43.1 | 9.7% | 20.6% | 11.0% | 1953 | $745 | 16.4% | 89.1% | 1.6% |
| Dickinson County | 2.04 | 49.0 | 5.3% | 22.5% | 25.3% | 1978 | $956 | 30.6% | 97.0% | 3.1% |
| Osceola County | 2.32 | 45.6 | 10.0% | 22.1% | 8.9% | 1954 | $781 | 17.5% | 88.3% | 3.6% |
| Winnebago County | 2.19 | 42.9 | 10.2% | 29.4% | 9.6% | 1960 | $699 | 26.0% | 94.8% | 3.0% |
| Lyon County | 2.77 | 38.1 | 5.7% | 19.1% | 9.0% | 1967 | $801 | 20.4% | 95.4% | 2.2% |
| Worth County | 2.30 | 46.0 | 6.6% | 16.8% | 9.7% | 1946 | $796 | 19.0% | 93.6% | 3.8% |
| Mitchell County | 2.30 | 41.5 | 6.1% | 20.0% | 7.1% | 1956 | $733 | 24.7% | 93.1% | 1.1% |
| Lincoln County | 2.56 | 35.9 | 10.8% | 28.8% | 3.6% | 2002 | $1,270 | 46.6% | 96.8% | 1.5% |
| Turner County | 2.47 | 40.9 | 8.2% | 21.0% | 7.7% | 1960 | $772 | 26.7% | 93.2% | 2.1% |
| Howard County | 2.47 | 40.8 | 11.9% | 22.6% | 12.9% | 1955 | $703 | 18.9% | 92.4% | 2.1% |
| Winneshiek County | 2.25 | 44.8 | 4.2% | 25.8% | 11.2% | 1962 | $890 | 31.7% | 96.1% | 2.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Dade County, MO · Sitka City and Borough, AK · Sharp County, AR · Decatur County, IA · Deaf Smith County, TX · De Witt County, IL · De Baca County, NM · Day County, SD · Davis County, IA · Daviess County, MO
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 Emmet 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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