Population 15,705 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Jefferson County
Household size in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.30 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.22 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.09 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.20 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Jefferson County is a place of small households, averaging 2.09 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 2.30 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Iowa county has smaller households.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.5 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.5 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 45.5, Jefferson County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 44.5 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Residents skew youngest in the south 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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.3% of households in Jefferson County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Jefferson County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Iowa counties.
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 Jefferson County
Renters in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.6% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.2% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 33.7% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.3% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Jefferson County is about as common as it is nationally: 32.3% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Iowa overall (28.3%). Among homeowners, 57.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 4.7 points from 2006–10, 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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Jefferson 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 is down 0.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1963 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Jefferson County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $597 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $625 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $717 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $879 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$282 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Jefferson County costs $879 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $282 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 34.4% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable 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 Jefferson County
Bachelor's degrees in Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 34.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 43.5% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +14.1 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Jefferson County than nationally: 43.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 14.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Few Iowa counties have a higher share of college graduates: only three of 99.
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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.5% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.7% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.4% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Jefferson County: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Jefferson County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of 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 Jefferson County
| Period | Jefferson County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.4% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.1% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Jefferson County runs well above the national rate: 8.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Jefferson County has the highest unemployment rate of any Iowa county. Since 2006–10, unemployment has risen 2.8 points, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 2.09 | 45.5 | 6.3% | 32.3% | 10.5% | 1964 | $879 | 43.5% | 95.4% | 8.2% |
| Henry County | 2.41 | 41.1 | 11.0% | 25.9% | 10.3% | 1967 | $817 | 23.1% | 91.5% | 1.8% |
| Wapello County | 2.51 | 40.0 | 17.5% | 31.6% | 10.5% | 1957 | $950 | 18.6% | 87.3% | 4.7% |
| Monroe County | 2.39 | 42.8 | 9.1% | 18.7% | 13.5% | 1968 | $822 | 22.8% | 95.0% | 2.3% |
| Lucas County | 2.38 | 42.1 | 10.8% | 21.2% | 9.5% | 1961 | $1,054 | 16.2% | 91.6% | 5.0% |
| Knox County | 2.17 | 43.4 | 10.8% | 29.2% | 13.2% | 1960 | $819 | 21.1% | 90.6% | 4.8% |
| Clarke County | 2.44 | 40.7 | 11.7% | 27.7% | 9.4% | 1978 | $823 | 16.2% | 88.9% | 4.6% |
| Stark County | 2.28 | 44.5 | 9.0% | 19.9% | 10.5% | 1952 | $765 | 21.4% | 92.8% | 2.3% |
| Union County | 2.35 | 41.9 | 9.0% | 27.9% | 10.9% | 1960 | $794 | 23.2% | 91.8% | 4.0% |
| Marshall County | 2.24 | 45.7 | 10.8% | 20.8% | 11.8% | 1959 | $791 | 17.7% | 91.5% | 4.0% |
| Adams County | 2.30 | 48.0 | 7.5% | 22.9% | 18.1% | 1956 | $863 | 26.9% | 93.9% | 3.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Crawford County, MO · Wilcox County, AL · Wilcox County, GA · Wilkes County, GA · Cumberland County, IL · Crowley County, CO · Cross County, AR · Crook County, OR · Crockett County, TN · Crittenden County, KY
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 Jefferson 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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