Population 27,095 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mason City
Household size in Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.17 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.12 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.11 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.09 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.08 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Mason City are small: just 2.09 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 edged down from 2.17 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 98 Iowa cities with 5,000+ people, only two have 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 Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.6 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.9 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.9 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.0 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.5 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Mason City skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.0, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 41.6 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 98 Iowa cities with 5,000+ people, only six are older.
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 Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.5% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in Mason City (11.1%), close to the national share of 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in Iowa as a whole (10.0%). The single-parent share has edged up 1.4 points since 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 Mason City
Renters in Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.6% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 32.8% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.2% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 34.0% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Mason City is about as common as it is nationally: 34.0% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Iowa as a whole (28.3%). Among homeowners, 41.1% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.4 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 Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.9% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.7% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.6% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Mason City than nationally: 12.6%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is up 4.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1956 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +6 |
Mason City is a place of older homes: half were built before 1960, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the north 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 Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $614 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $637 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $751 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $896 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$282 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Mason City costs $896 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $282 a month from 2006–10, a 46% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.5% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southeast; 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 Mason City
Bachelor's degrees in Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.3% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.9% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Mason City: 22.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 1.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.6% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.6% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.2% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Mason City is above the national rate: 94.2% 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 2.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Mason City
| Period | Mason City | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Mason City has been strong: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.8 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
Mason City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City | 2.09 | 45.0 | 11.1% | 34.0% | 12.6% | 1960 | $896 | 22.7% | 94.2% | 3.2% |
| Portland | 2.43 | 42.0 | 4.0% | 28.1% | 11.3% | 1981 | $959 | 28.0% | 90.3% | 0.3% |
| Freeman | 2.68 | 37.3 | 5.0% | 39.5% | 2.3% | 1961 | $524 | 38.0% | 98.1% | 1.2% |
| Emery | 2.39 | 41.7 | 7.0% | 32.4% | 10.4% | 1964 | $666 | 30.5% | 96.5% | 1.7% |
| Hanford | 2.34 | 46.6 | 5.9% | 4.8% | 4.3% | 1963 | $553 | 37.6% | 90.5% | 2.2% |
| Rock Falls | 2.67 | 35.6 | 7.6% | 10.2% | 12.2% | 1946 | $811 | 16.3% | 97.1% | 3.2% |
| Plymouth | 2.56 | 37.9 | 7.0% | 12.0% | 11.0% | 1945 | $798 | 14.8% | 97.0% | 3.0% |
| Clear Lake | 2.12 | 50.9 | 5.8% | 24.1% | 20.8% | 1971 | $899 | 31.1% | 97.6% | 2.3% |
| Manly | 2.48 | 40.8 | 8.9% | 30.4% | 16.5% | 1957 | $679 | 18.2% | 96.2% | 3.9% |
| Nora Springs | 2.57 | 43.6 | 5.5% | 13.6% | 10.5% | 1950 | $773 | 26.4% | 96.5% | 1.4% |
| Rockwell | 2.38 | 44.0 | 9.2% | 22.1% | 8.3% | 1969 | $614 | 21.4% | 97.3% | 1.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Faribault, MN · Green, OH · Glasgow, KY · Fremont, OH · Freeport, IL · Fortuna Foothills, AZ · Fort Hood, TX · Fort Dodge, IA · Flowing Wells, AZ · Feasterville-Trevose, PA
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 Mason City. 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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