Population 14,126 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in O'Brien County
Household size in O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.20 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
O'Brien County is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.34, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center.
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 O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.1 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.4 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.8 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
At 41.4, the median age in O'Brien County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in Iowa as a whole, where the median age is 39.8. The median age has dropped from 44.1 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in O'Brien County: 6.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 0.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. O'Brien County has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Iowa counties.
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 O'Brien County
Renters in O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.1% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.6% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.9% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
O'Brien County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.9% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 49.2% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 0.8 points from 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 O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in O'Brien County as nationally: 10.9%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Iowa overall (8.8%).
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 O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1957 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +6 |
O'Brien County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1961, 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 1952 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $536 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $552 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $596 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $789 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$253 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in O'Brien County runs $789 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $253 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 22.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the north; the most affordable are in the southeast.
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 O'Brien County
Bachelor's degrees in O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.3% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.5% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.2% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in O'Brien County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 22.2%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 3.6 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.6% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.4% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.3% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in O'Brien County is close to the national rate: 90.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Iowa overall (93.0%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 1.7 points, 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 O'Brien County
| Period | O'Brien County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.1% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.6% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in O'Brien County has been strong: just 1.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Iowa county has lower unemployment. Unemployment is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
O'Brien 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Brien County | 2.39 | 41.4 | 6.6% | 23.9% | 10.9% | 1961 | $789 | 22.2% | 90.3% | 1.1% |
| Sioux County | 2.69 | 34.4 | 6.0% | 23.9% | 5.1% | 1973 | $904 | 31.4% | 91.4% | 1.4% |
| Clay County | 2.25 | 43.2 | 6.1% | 26.7% | 11.4% | 1963 | $800 | 27.3% | 93.2% | 3.5% |
| Palo Alto County | 2.27 | 42.0 | 8.1% | 22.9% | 16.7% | 1957 | $690 | 19.3% | 93.6% | 2.3% |
| Kossuth County | 2.22 | 45.3 | 6.2% | 21.4% | 9.7% | 1961 | $1,063 | 23.4% | 95.3% | 2.1% |
| Hancock County | 2.26 | 45.9 | 8.8% | 17.5% | 8.8% | 1960 | $795 | 20.4% | 91.4% | 1.9% |
| Cerro Gordo County | 2.15 | 45.9 | 9.4% | 29.6% | 14.9% | 1962 | $894 | 25.2% | 94.9% | 2.9% |
| Charles Mix County | 2.97 | 36.5 | 11.1% | 27.7% | 16.2% | 1971 | $766 | 26.1% | 91.2% | 6.1% |
| Floyd County | 2.37 | 43.6 | 9.5% | 23.4% | 11.9% | 1953 | $738 | 18.1% | 95.4% | 3.0% |
| Chickasaw County | 2.36 | 43.1 | 7.5% | 19.1% | 9.6% | 1966 | $717 | 21.3% | 93.7% | 1.7% |
| Gregory County | 2.45 | 44.8 | 4.9% | 23.3% | 26.3% | 1964 | $587 | 22.5% | 92.5% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Bibb County, AL · Amite County, MS · Anderson County, KY · Andrew County, MO · Andrews County, TX · Anson County, NC · Antrim County, MI · Aransas County, TX · Assumption Parish, LA · Beckham County, OK
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 O'Brien 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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