Population 23,867 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Iowa County
Household size in Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.43 | 2.43 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.44 | 2.41 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.38 | 2.39 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.35 | 2.30 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.13 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Households in Iowa County are small: just 2.35 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. Household size has edged down from 2.43 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 37.0 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.4 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.8 | 38.3 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.2 | 38.9 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.7 | +1.9 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Iowa County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.5, as it has 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 Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 8.7% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 8.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.5% | 8.2% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | −0.5 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Iowa County: 7.5% of households, against 11.6% nationally. That is in line with the rest of the Madison area. 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 Iowa County
Renters in Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.2% | 35.1% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.4% | 38.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.2% | 38.9% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 39.7% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Iowa 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. Among homeowners, 39.8% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast.
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 Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 8.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 6.3% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 5.7% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 5.5% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −3.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Iowa County as nationally: 8.7%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the Madison area overall (5.5%).
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 Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1976 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1978 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1979 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1983 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Iowa County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1972 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the south 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 Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $687 | $868 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $700 | $950 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $763 | $1,072 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,006 | $1,366 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$319 | +$498 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Iowa County costs $1,006 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $319 a month from 2006–10, a 46% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 24.0% 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 northwest; the highest are in the northeast.
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 Iowa County
Bachelor's degrees in Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 41.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.6% | 43.6% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.7% | 46.9% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.5% | 50.6% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Iowa County than nationally: 28.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.2 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
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 Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.9% | 93.8% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.6% | 94.4% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.3% | 95.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.9% | 95.1% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +1.3 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Iowa County: 94.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of the Madison area. The share with a diploma has risen 2.9 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 Iowa County
| Period | Iowa County | Madison area | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 5.0% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.7% | 5.5% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 2.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.4 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Iowa County has been low: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.8 points, mirroring the country. 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).
Iowa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 44.2 | 7.5% | 22.6% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,006 | 28.5% | 94.9% | 3.0% |
| Grant County | 2.42 | 38.6 | 7.4% | 30.2% | 10.1% | 1973 | $836 | 27.9% | 93.7% | 3.1% |
| Dane County | 2.29 | 37.9 | 8.0% | 42.9% | 5.0% | 1985 | $1,441 | 55.4% | 95.3% | 2.5% |
| Clayton County | 2.26 | 47.4 | 8.1% | 22.0% | 14.3% | 1957 | $820 | 14.3% | 92.5% | 2.6% |
| Jefferson County | 2.41 | 42.1 | 8.8% | 26.9% | 6.3% | 1974 | $1,074 | 28.9% | 92.3% | 3.6% |
| Fayette County | 2.22 | 43.0 | 8.7% | 23.5% | 10.5% | 1951 | $860 | 20.7% | 92.8% | 3.8% |
| Waukesha County | 2.49 | 44.2 | 6.5% | 24.0% | 5.2% | 1981 | $1,484 | 49.2% | 97.2% | 2.3% |
| Milwaukee County | 2.43 | 36.6 | 15.9% | 50.1% | 8.7% | 1958 | $1,176 | 34.0% | 88.9% | 5.1% |
| Chickasaw County | 2.36 | 43.1 | 7.5% | 19.1% | 9.6% | 1966 | $717 | 21.3% | 93.7% | 1.7% |
| Floyd County | 2.37 | 43.6 | 9.5% | 23.4% | 11.9% | 1953 | $738 | 18.1% | 95.4% | 3.0% |
| Hancock County | 2.26 | 45.9 | 8.8% | 17.5% | 8.8% | 1960 | $795 | 20.4% | 91.4% | 1.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hancock County, WV · Roane County, WV · Hempstead County, AR · Haywood County, TN · Hart County, KY · Hart County, GA · Harrison County, OH · Harrison County, IA · Harlan County, KY · Hardy County, WV
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 Iowa 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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