Population 19,288 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fayette County
Household size in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.39 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.16 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Fayette County is a place of small households, averaging 2.22 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.39 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Fayette County has smaller households than the great majority of Iowa counties.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.0 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Fayette County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.0, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 42.0 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the northeast.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Fayette County than nationally: 8.7%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 1.4 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 Fayette County
Renters in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.5% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.8% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.4% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Fayette County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly half of owners (47.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 1.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Fayette County is close to the national rate: 10.5% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Iowa overall (8.8%). Vacancy has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, 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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1947 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1951 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Fayette County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1951, 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 1947 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only six of Iowa's 99 counties have older 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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $483 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $570 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $620 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $860 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$378 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Fayette County pays $860 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $378 a month since 2006–10, up 78%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 27.1% 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 northwest; the highest 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 Fayette County
Bachelor's degrees in Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.7% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.0% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Fayette County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.7%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 2.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the southwest.
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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.7% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.8% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over nine in ten adults in Fayette County have finished high school (92.8%), above the national rate of 89.3%. Iowa as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 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 Fayette County
| Period | Fayette County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.2% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Fayette County than nationally: unemployment was 3.8%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Fayette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County | 2.22 | 43.0 | 8.7% | 23.5% | 10.5% | 1951 | $860 | 20.7% | 92.8% | 3.8% |
| Bremer County | 2.49 | 38.7 | 8.7% | 20.3% | 8.2% | 1967 | $920 | 37.3% | 96.3% | 3.0% |
| Clayton County | 2.26 | 47.4 | 8.1% | 22.0% | 14.3% | 1957 | $820 | 14.3% | 92.5% | 2.6% |
| Butler County | 2.41 | 44.2 | 7.0% | 15.9% | 10.9% | 1957 | $743 | 21.5% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Grant County | 2.42 | 38.6 | 7.4% | 30.2% | 10.1% | 1973 | $836 | 27.9% | 93.7% | 3.1% |
| Franklin County | 2.35 | 45.8 | 10.2% | 27.6% | 10.9% | 1950 | $730 | 19.5% | 90.2% | 3.6% |
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 44.2 | 7.5% | 22.6% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,006 | 28.5% | 94.9% | 3.0% |
| Wright County | 2.41 | 40.1 | 13.4% | 23.0% | 14.6% | 1960 | $845 | 24.6% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Humboldt County | 2.25 | 43.3 | 13.3% | 22.8% | 9.1% | 1959 | $798 | 19.5% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
| Pocahontas County | 2.31 | 43.4 | 7.2% | 22.7% | 17.4% | 1950 | $801 | 19.0% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Cherokee County | 2.26 | 45.1 | 6.8% | 24.5% | 9.3% | 1957 | $750 | 24.5% | 93.2% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Tattnall County, GA · Clarke County, MS · Clay County, AL · Clay County, AR · Clay County, IA · Clay County, IL · Clay County, IN · Clay County, KY · Clay County, MS · Clay County, SD
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 Fayette 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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