Population 9,889 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Grinnell
Household size in Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.18 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.11 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.19 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Grinnell are small: just 2.19 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. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the east.
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 Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.6 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.8 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.8 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.9 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Grinnell are younger than 38.9 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.6, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the center.
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 Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.1% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.7% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.7% of households in Grinnell, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Grinnell has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Iowa cities.
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 Grinnell
Renters in Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.2% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.6% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.4% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.5% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a third of households in Grinnell rent their homes (32.5%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Just over four in ten owners (41.5%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Grinnell as nationally: 10.1%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Des Moines area as a whole (7.0%).
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 Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Grinnell is a place of older homes: half were built before 1962, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $569 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $689 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $818 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $913 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$343 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Grinnell costs $913 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $343 a month since 2006–10, up 60%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 30.9% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Grinnell
Bachelor's degrees in Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.2% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.6% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.5% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.6% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are just as common in Grinnell as nationally: 35.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher. The share is lower than in the Des Moines area as a whole (40.3%). The share with a degree has risen 6.4 points since 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 Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.2% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.9% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.3% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.0% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Grinnell: 95.0% 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 1.8 points, 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 Grinnell
| Period | Grinnell | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Grinnell has been strong: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.9 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Grinnell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell | 2.19 | 38.9 | 6.7% | 32.5% | 10.1% | 1962 | $913 | 35.6% | 95.0% | 3.2% |
| Oakland Acres | 2.53 | 45.8 | 7.1% | 25.5% | 11.6% | 1970 | $1,185 | 32.2% | 97.2% | 6.9% |
| Newburg | 2.83 | 41.1 | 9.8% | 19.3% | 7.7% | 1963 | $1,120 | 30.3% | 93.5% | 6.0% |
| Sheridan | 2.04 | 47.1 | 3.8% | 20.5% | 7.9% | 1974 | $974 | 22.5% | 99.3% | 5.7% |
| Kellogg | 2.56 | 46.3 | 6.6% | 20.2% | 11.3% | 1953 | $1,061 | 19.6% | 91.9% | 11.8% |
| Malcom | 2.17 | 43.3 | 3.0% | 20.3% | 5.8% | 1972 | $802 | 22.1% | 95.8% | 5.6% |
| Gilman | 2.53 | 39.8 | 16.6% | 12.8% | 9.4% | 1951 | $810 | 19.1% | 94.8% | 5.0% |
| Lynnville | 2.21 | 43.4 | 1.6% | 21.4% | 4.8% | 1946 | $676 | 21.5% | 94.7% | 2.2% |
| Searsboro | 2.17 | 53.4 | 8.2% | 26.0% | 22.2% | 1961 | $807 | 22.7% | 98.2% | 1.3% |
| Sully | 2.50 | 40.5 | 1.8% | 18.9% | 2.7% | 1959 | $877 | 20.1% | 97.9% | 2.7% |
| Killduff | 2.84 | 40.7 | 4.0% | 23.1% | 2.0% | 1964 | $1,000 | 16.9% | 95.5% | 9.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sweetwater, FL · Colts Neck, NJ · Columbiana, OH · Woodfield, SC · Woodbury, NY · Thurmont, MD · Tarentum, PA · Taneytown, MD · Tamaqua, PA · Tallassee, AL
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 Grinnell. 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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