Population 10,688 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Guthrie County
Household size in Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.30 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Guthrie County is a place of small households, averaging 2.30 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated 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 Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.6 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.5 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.2 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.0 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.4 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Guthrie County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has crept up from 44.6 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.7% of households in Guthrie County, well below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other Iowa counties, Guthrie County has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
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 Guthrie County
Renters in Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.9% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.0% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.4% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.9 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Guthrie County is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (44.3%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 4.9 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 Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.9% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.2% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.8% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.7% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Guthrie County: 19.7% 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. Vacancy has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1963 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Guthrie County 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. The median year built has moved up from 1958 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the southwest 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 Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $485 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $605 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $670 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $825 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$339 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Guthrie County runs $825 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $339 a month since 2006–10, up 70%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 26.0% of household income on rent, comfortably 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 south; 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 Guthrie County
Bachelor's degrees in Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.8% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.7% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.7% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.9% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.0 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Guthrie County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.9%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.0 points, as it has nationally. Compared with other Iowa counties, though, Guthrie County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
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 Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.1% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.0% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.8% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Guthrie County: 95.8% 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 4.7 points, as it has nationally. Guthrie County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Iowa counties.
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 Guthrie County
| Period | Guthrie County | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Guthrie 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%. 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).
Guthrie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guthrie County | 2.30 | 45.0 | 7.7% | 16.0% | 19.7% | 1962 | $825 | 24.9% | 95.8% | 3.1% |
| Audubon County | 2.16 | 47.3 | 7.8% | 23.8% | 8.1% | 1948 | $758 | 21.2% | 92.1% | 1.5% |
| Dallas County | 2.59 | 36.9 | 8.1% | 31.0% | 5.9% | 2000 | $1,300 | 52.3% | 95.5% | 2.3% |
| Polk County | 2.51 | 37.0 | 12.0% | 32.6% | 6.9% | 1981 | $1,241 | 40.5% | 91.7% | 5.0% |
| Shelby County | 2.41 | 44.4 | 7.5% | 22.2% | 11.9% | 1953 | $777 | 25.1% | 95.5% | 3.1% |
| Jasper County | 2.44 | 41.6 | 10.4% | 27.7% | 9.6% | 1964 | $870 | 20.3% | 94.1% | 7.2% |
| Harrison County | 2.42 | 42.5 | 6.4% | 22.9% | 8.6% | 1958 | $851 | 23.0% | 94.1% | 2.2% |
| Washington County | 2.52 | 43.6 | 7.7% | 16.8% | 4.2% | 1974 | $1,007 | 35.9% | 96.1% | 2.1% |
| Poweshiek County | 2.19 | 41.2 | 7.2% | 28.8% | 11.7% | 1965 | $881 | 28.4% | 94.7% | 3.5% |
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 43.5 | 9.6% | 23.4% | 5.9% | 1967 | $775 | 25.3% | 95.4% | 1.7% |
| Colfax County | 3.44 | 34.5 | 24.9% | 23.7% | 4.6% | 1968 | $989 | 14.6% | 67.9% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Cochran County, TX · Teton County, MT · Teton County, ID · Terry County, TX · Terrell County, TX · Tensas Parish, LA · Telfair County, GA · Costilla County, CO · Concho County, TX · Comanche County, KS
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 Guthrie 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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