Population 32,893 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Lee County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Lee County
Household size in Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.35 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.25 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.12 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Lee County are small: just 2.25 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. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.38, 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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.3 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.0 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.7 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Lee County skews older than the country: its median age is 43.7, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 41.8, in line with the national trend. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the west.
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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.0% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in seven households in Lee County (13.9%), above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 0.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Only three of Iowa's 99 counties have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Lee County
Renters in Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.9% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.0% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.6% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.7% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lee County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 49.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.3 points, 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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Lee County as nationally: 9.7%, against 9.6%. Vacancy is down 3.2 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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Lee 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. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the east.
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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $485 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $628 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $715 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $834 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$349 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lee County pays $834 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $349 a month from 2006–10, a 72% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the southwest.
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 Lee County
Bachelor's degrees in Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.3% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.7 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Lee County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.3%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.7 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the south.
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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.1% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.5% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.4 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lee County is above the national rate: 92.5% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Iowa. The share with a diploma has risen 6.4 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 Lee County
| Period | Lee County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.0% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Lee County than nationally: unemployment was 4.2%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, as it has 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).
Lee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | 2.25 | 43.7 | 13.9% | 23.7% | 9.7% | 1962 | $834 | 21.3% | 92.5% | 4.2% |
| Hancock County | 2.30 | 46.6 | 7.9% | 18.7% | 14.3% | 1963 | $777 | 25.1% | 93.5% | 4.2% |
| Clark County | 2.69 | 44.7 | 5.4% | 21.7% | 24.1% | 1970 | $639 | 15.2% | 91.2% | 5.5% |
| McDonough County | 2.10 | 38.6 | 8.6% | 36.5% | 15.4% | 1964 | $730 | 31.1% | 94.8% | 7.3% |
| Scotland County | 3.04 | 35.0 | 4.5% | 17.6% | 27.8% | 1974 | $491 | 14.6% | 73.3% | 0.2% |
| Schuyler County | 3.12 | 39.8 | 5.2% | 20.1% | 30.1% | 1965 | $411 | 12.3% | 92.8% | 3.3% |
| Fulton County | 2.33 | 44.1 | 10.5% | 23.4% | 13.0% | 1959 | $854 | 18.6% | 91.2% | 6.3% |
| Putnam County | 2.69 | 44.8 | 7.4% | 17.0% | 31.0% | 1980 | $513 | 23.8% | 95.5% | 3.7% |
| Tazewell County | 2.40 | 42.1 | 8.9% | 21.6% | 8.6% | 1968 | $1,007 | 29.0% | 94.2% | 3.6% |
| Mercer County | 2.64 | 42.9 | 11.2% | 19.0% | 27.5% | 1971 | $641 | 18.1% | 90.9% | 3.4% |
| McLean County | 2.39 | 37.1 | 8.1% | 34.9% | 8.2% | 1980 | $1,093 | 47.3% | 96.2% | 2.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hopkins County, TX · San Sebastian Municipio, PR · Russell County, VA · Rowan County, KY · Iosco County, MI · Independence County, AR · Iberville Parish, LA · Huron County, MI · Huntington County, IN · Howard 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 Lee 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.