Population 8,557 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Monona County
Household size in Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.18 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.24 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.13 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.21 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Monona County are small: just 2.21 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 crept up from 2.18 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Of Iowa's 99 counties, only eight 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 Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.8 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.8 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.3 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.5 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.2 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Monona County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the northwest.
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 Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Monona County than nationally: 8.9%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share is little changed from 2006–10, while 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 Monona County
Renters in Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.5% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.7% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.6% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.3% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Monona County is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 52.3% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 4.2 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 Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.7% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Monona County than nationally: 11.9%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has risen 1.5 points since 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 Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1949 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1951 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1948 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1954 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Monona County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1954, 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 1949 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $515 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $577 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $590 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $885 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$370 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Monona County costs $885 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $370 a month from 2006–10, a 72% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 24.1% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the east.
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 Monona County
Bachelor's degrees in Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.7% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Monona County: 19.9% 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 risen 5.2 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the east.
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 Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.4% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.1% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.4% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.8% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Monona County have finished high school (91.8%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Iowa. The share with a diploma has risen 4.4 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 Monona County
| Period | Monona County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.6% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Monona County has been strong: just 1.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only seven of Iowa's 99 counties have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 4.1 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).
Monona 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monona County | 2.21 | 45.5 | 8.9% | 24.3% | 11.9% | 1954 | $885 | 19.9% | 91.8% | 1.6% |
| Thurston County | 3.29 | 30.0 | 18.8% | 39.0% | 13.3% | 1967 | $728 | 21.6% | 93.6% | 10.9% |
| Crawford County | 2.51 | 40.3 | 18.5% | 24.0% | 8.3% | 1960 | $732 | 17.7% | 83.2% | 3.9% |
| Carroll County | 2.33 | 41.9 | 7.9% | 22.9% | 8.8% | 1960 | $809 | 24.2% | 95.3% | 1.8% |
| Stanton County | 2.48 | 40.2 | 4.6% | 21.7% | 7.2% | 1964 | $1,057 | 23.3% | 94.1% | 0.6% |
| Madison County | 2.44 | 38.6 | 9.6% | 34.6% | 7.9% | 1970 | $894 | 24.1% | 91.3% | 2.8% |
| Greene County | 2.19 | 45.9 | 8.1% | 23.6% | 10.1% | 1952 | $822 | 21.3% | 93.5% | 2.2% |
| Antelope County | 2.41 | 43.0 | 5.8% | 21.0% | 16.7% | 1960 | $668 | 21.1% | 94.0% | 1.7% |
| Boone County | 2.41 | 42.7 | 8.5% | 20.0% | 8.7% | 1961 | $930 | 28.5% | 95.1% | 1.5% |
| Story County | 2.36 | 33.8 | 5.1% | 44.5% | 9.3% | 1983 | $1,026 | 58.0% | 96.8% | 4.3% |
| Marshall County | 2.58 | 39.8 | 10.7% | 25.0% | 9.5% | 1957 | $1,039 | 22.6% | 86.1% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Schuyler County, IL · Gooding County, ID · Goshen County, WY · Gosper County, NE · Gove County, KS · Graham County, KS · Grant County, NE · Sanborn County, SD · Schleicher County, TX · Schley County, GA
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 Monona 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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