Population 9,445 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Howard County
Household size in Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.28 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.38 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.19 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Howard County has 2.47 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.28, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the north and smallest in the southeast.
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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.7 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.8 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Howard County are younger than 40.8 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has dropped from 42.5 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the southwest, the 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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.7 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Howard County as they are nationally: 11.9%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Iowa overall (10.0%). The single-parent share has risen 3.7 points since 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 Howard County
Renters in Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.5% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Howard County is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (54.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.1 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.9% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs high in Howard County: 12.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.9 points, 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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1952 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1953 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1955 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Howard County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1955, 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 1950 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the west 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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $516 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $534 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $648 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $703 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$187 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Howard County runs $703 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $187 a month since 2006–10, up 36%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 18.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Of Iowa's 99 counties, only six have lower rents.
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 Howard County
Bachelor's degrees in Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.7% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.9% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Howard County: 18.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Howard County has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Iowa counties.
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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.2% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.7% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.9% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.4% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Howard County is a bit above the national rate: 92.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Iowa. The share with a diploma is up 5.1 points from 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 Howard County
| Period | Howard County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.2% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.8% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.4% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Howard County has been strong: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.1 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).
Howard 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Mitchell County | 2.30 | 41.5 | 6.1% | 20.0% | 7.1% | 1956 | $733 | 24.7% | 93.1% | 1.1% |
| Allamakee County | 2.39 | 42.7 | 6.7% | 20.4% | 15.2% | 1968 | $744 | 22.0% | 92.0% | 2.6% |
| Worth County | 2.30 | 46.0 | 6.6% | 16.8% | 9.7% | 1946 | $796 | 19.0% | 93.6% | 3.8% |
| Winnebago County | 2.19 | 42.9 | 10.2% | 29.4% | 9.6% | 1960 | $699 | 26.0% | 94.8% | 3.0% |
| Richland County | 2.34 | 46.5 | 7.4% | 26.1% | 14.9% | 1969 | $911 | 21.1% | 92.7% | 3.4% |
| Sauk County | 2.38 | 42.4 | 8.3% | 27.6% | 10.2% | 1979 | $1,013 | 27.2% | 92.6% | 2.2% |
| Emmet County | 2.16 | 43.1 | 9.7% | 20.6% | 11.0% | 1953 | $745 | 16.4% | 89.1% | 1.6% |
| Columbia County | 2.36 | 43.6 | 9.5% | 23.3% | 9.8% | 1975 | $1,019 | 25.9% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Dickinson County | 2.04 | 49.0 | 5.3% | 22.5% | 25.3% | 1978 | $956 | 30.6% | 97.0% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Pondera County, MT · Kearney County, NE · Kearny County, KS · Keith County, NE · Kemper County, MS · Kenedy County, TX · Kent County, TX · Keweenaw County, MI · Keya Paha County, NE · Kidder County, ND
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 Howard 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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