Population 8,716 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lucas County
Household size in Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.32 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.38 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.13 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Lucas County is a place of small households, averaging 2.38 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 2.51 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
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 Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.4 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.4 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.1 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.3 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Lucas County is 42.1 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 42.4, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.3% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Lucas County as they are nationally: 10.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 3.5 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 Lucas County
Renters in Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.5% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.5% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.9% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.2% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 21.2% of households in Lucas County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About half of owners (49.2%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. The renter share has fallen 3.3 points since 2006–10, 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 Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.5% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.5 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Lucas County as nationally: 9.5%, against 9.6%. Vacancy has fallen 4.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1955 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1964 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Lucas 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 1956 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $459 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $553 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $682 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,054 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$596 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lucas County pays $1,054 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $596 a month from 2006–10, a 130% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 28.7% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Lucas County
Bachelor's degrees in Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Lucas County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.2%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Iowa county has a lower share of college graduates.
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 Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.7% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.7% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.0% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.6% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Lucas County have finished high school (91.6%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Iowa. The share with a diploma has risen 4.0 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 Lucas County
| Period | Lucas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 5.0%, unemployment in Lucas County is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Iowa overall (3.7%). Unemployment has fallen 6.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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).
Lucas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas County | 2.38 | 42.1 | 10.8% | 21.2% | 9.5% | 1961 | $1,054 | 16.2% | 91.6% | 5.0% |
| Clarke County | 2.44 | 40.7 | 11.7% | 27.7% | 9.4% | 1978 | $823 | 16.2% | 88.9% | 4.6% |
| Monroe County | 2.39 | 42.8 | 9.1% | 18.7% | 13.5% | 1968 | $822 | 22.8% | 95.0% | 2.3% |
| Wapello County | 2.51 | 40.0 | 17.5% | 31.6% | 10.5% | 1957 | $950 | 18.6% | 87.3% | 4.7% |
| Union County | 2.35 | 41.9 | 9.0% | 27.9% | 10.9% | 1960 | $794 | 23.2% | 91.8% | 4.0% |
| Jefferson County | 2.09 | 45.5 | 6.3% | 32.3% | 10.5% | 1964 | $879 | 43.5% | 95.4% | 8.2% |
| Adams County | 2.30 | 48.0 | 7.5% | 22.9% | 18.1% | 1956 | $863 | 26.9% | 93.9% | 3.8% |
| Henry County | 2.41 | 41.1 | 11.0% | 25.9% | 10.3% | 1967 | $817 | 23.1% | 91.5% | 1.8% |
| Montgomery County | 2.24 | 44.0 | 11.5% | 30.9% | 8.5% | 1960 | $844 | 20.7% | 91.4% | 2.5% |
| Mills County | 2.67 | 42.2 | 9.2% | 16.5% | 11.2% | 1969 | $937 | 30.9% | 96.8% | 1.9% |
| Sarpy County | 2.71 | 37.0 | 9.5% | 29.6% | 4.6% | 1994 | $1,451 | 43.2% | 95.6% | 2.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Copper River Census Area, AK · Taylor County, IA · Crawford County, IN · Crawford County, IA · Crawford County, GA · Craig County, VA · Craig County, OK · Covington County, MS · Covington City, VA · Cottonwood County, MN
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 Lucas 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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