Population 14,516 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kossuth County
Household size in Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.27 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.22 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Kossuth County are small: just 2.22 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 dropped from 2.32 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.1 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.6 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.3 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.8 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Kossuth County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.3, 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 edged down from 46.1, even as the national median rose.
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 Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.9% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.2% of households in Kossuth County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Few Iowa counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only eight of 99.
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 Kossuth County
Renters in Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.4% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.4% of households in Kossuth County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 52.4% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the east. The renter share has risen 3.6 points since 2006–10, as it has 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 Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.3% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.5% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Kossuth County as nationally: 9.7%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.7 points, as it has nationally.
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 Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1955 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Kossuth County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1961, 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 1955 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the northeast 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 Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $470 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $518 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $678 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,063 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$593 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Kossuth County runs $1,063 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $593 a month since 2006–10, up 126%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 22.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the center; 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 Kossuth County
Bachelor's degrees in Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.7% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Kossuth County: 23.4% 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 6.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the north.
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 Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.2% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.2% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.3% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Kossuth County: 95.3% 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 5.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Kossuth 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 Kossuth County
| Period | Kossuth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.0% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.2% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Kossuth County has been low: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. 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).
Kossuth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kossuth County | 2.22 | 45.3 | 6.2% | 21.4% | 9.7% | 1961 | $1,063 | 23.4% | 95.3% | 2.1% |
| Palo Alto County | 2.27 | 42.0 | 8.1% | 22.9% | 16.7% | 1957 | $690 | 19.3% | 93.6% | 2.3% |
| Hancock County | 2.26 | 45.9 | 8.8% | 17.5% | 8.8% | 1960 | $795 | 20.4% | 91.4% | 1.9% |
| Clay County | 2.25 | 43.2 | 6.1% | 26.7% | 11.4% | 1963 | $800 | 27.3% | 93.2% | 3.5% |
| Cerro Gordo County | 2.15 | 45.9 | 9.4% | 29.6% | 14.9% | 1962 | $894 | 25.2% | 94.9% | 2.9% |
| Floyd County | 2.37 | 43.6 | 9.5% | 23.4% | 11.9% | 1953 | $738 | 18.1% | 95.4% | 3.0% |
| O'Brien County | 2.39 | 41.4 | 6.6% | 23.9% | 10.9% | 1961 | $789 | 22.2% | 90.3% | 1.1% |
| Chickasaw County | 2.36 | 43.1 | 7.5% | 19.1% | 9.6% | 1966 | $717 | 21.3% | 93.7% | 1.7% |
| Sioux County | 2.69 | 34.4 | 6.0% | 23.9% | 5.1% | 1973 | $904 | 31.4% | 91.4% | 1.4% |
| Winneshiek County | 2.25 | 44.8 | 4.2% | 25.8% | 11.2% | 1962 | $890 | 31.7% | 96.1% | 2.1% |
| Allamakee County | 2.39 | 42.7 | 6.7% | 20.4% | 15.2% | 1968 | $744 | 22.0% | 92.0% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Ouachita County, AR · Pamlico County, NC · Palo Alto County, IA · Page County, VA · Page County, IA · Pacific County, WA · Ozark County, MO · Owyhee County, ID · Overton County, TN · Panola County, TX
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 Kossuth 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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