Population 550 · 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 Lester: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Lester
Household size in Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.89 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.82 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.87 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.05 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.16 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Lester are large by national standards, averaging 3.05 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.89, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.9 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.4 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.5 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +9.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Lester is 37.5 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1.
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 Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 2.5% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.3% of households in Lester, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Lester
Renters in Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.2% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lester is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 40.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as 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 Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.5% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.5% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 18.2% of the housing in Lester, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1946 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1960 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1962 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +17 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Lester is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1962, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $952 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $746 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $705 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $867 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$85 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Lester runs $867 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 21.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Lester
Bachelor's degrees in Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.9% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.6% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −12.0 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lester: 13.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.4% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.4% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.6% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lester: 96.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 Lester
| Period | Lester | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.9% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 0.0% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.0% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The survey found almost no one in Lester out of work and looking, against 5.4% of the labor force 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).
Lester compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lester | 3.05 | 37.5 | 5.3% | 16.1% | 18.2% | 1962 | $867 | 13.6% | 96.6% | 0.0% |
| Larchwood | 2.78 | 34.1 | 5.7% | 19.7% | 6.9% | 1981 | $867 | 28.3% | 96.7% | 1.0% |
| Alvord | 2.86 | 36.5 | 3.1% | 14.1% | 4.9% | 1957 | $704 | 13.9% | 96.1% | 4.1% |
| Hills | 2.31 | 40.8 | 4.0% | 21.7% | 8.9% | 1955 | $985 | 24.8% | 93.9% | 5.1% |
| Steen | 2.40 | 41.5 | 6.2% | 17.8% | 7.8% | 1955 | $838 | 21.7% | 93.3% | 3.2% |
| Rock Rapids | 2.95 | 37.5 | 7.4% | 23.7% | 13.1% | 1968 | $758 | 21.3% | 95.4% | 2.5% |
| Inwood | 2.73 | 35.8 | 3.1% | 13.3% | 4.9% | 1971 | $985 | 16.4% | 93.9% | 1.4% |
| Rowena | 2.62 | 47.4 | 9.1% | 13.8% | 4.7% | 1976 | $1,034 | 36.0% | 93.8% | 1.3% |
| Doon | 2.83 | 35.5 | 2.9% | 15.9% | 8.0% | 1964 | $625 | 16.6% | 95.8% | 6.0% |
| Valley Springs | 2.58 | 46.6 | 8.0% | 18.6% | 1.3% | 1974 | $1,066 | 25.6% | 96.9% | 2.5% |
| Beaver Creek | 2.60 | 42.1 | 6.0% | 14.0% | 5.5% | 1953 | $737 | 23.8% | 95.2% | 1.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Diamond, AL · Vienna, ME · Vernalis, CA · Troy Mills, IA · Trout Valley, IL · Trist, MI · Treadway, TN · Toutle, WA · Tivoli, TX · Ferrelview, MO
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 Lester. 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.