Population 8,863 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Palo Alto County
Household size in Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.22 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.33 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Palo Alto County are small: just 2.27 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. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
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 Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.1 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.9 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.5 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.0 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.0 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Palo Alto County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.0, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has dropped from 43.1 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the north.
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 Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.9% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Palo Alto County: 8.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 2.2 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 Palo Alto County
Renters in Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.7% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.9% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.9% of households in Palo Alto 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 (50.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.5 points, 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 Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.1% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Palo Alto County: 16.7% of homes are empty, 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. Vacancy has risen 2.3 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 Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1957 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Palo Alto County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1957, 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.
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 Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $450 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $512 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $597 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $690 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$240 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Palo Alto County runs $690 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $240 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest 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 Palo Alto County
Bachelor's degrees in Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.2% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.3% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Palo Alto County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.3%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
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 Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.8% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.5% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Palo Alto County is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Iowa as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has risen 5.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Palo Alto County
| Period | Palo Alto County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.5% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.4% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Palo Alto County has been low: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Palo Alto 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Clay County | 2.25 | 43.2 | 6.1% | 26.7% | 11.4% | 1963 | $800 | 27.3% | 93.2% | 3.5% |
| Hancock County | 2.26 | 45.9 | 8.8% | 17.5% | 8.8% | 1960 | $795 | 20.4% | 91.4% | 1.9% |
| O'Brien County | 2.39 | 41.4 | 6.6% | 23.9% | 10.9% | 1961 | $789 | 22.2% | 90.3% | 1.1% |
| Cerro Gordo County | 2.15 | 45.9 | 9.4% | 29.6% | 14.9% | 1962 | $894 | 25.2% | 94.9% | 2.9% |
| Sioux County | 2.69 | 34.4 | 6.0% | 23.9% | 5.1% | 1973 | $904 | 31.4% | 91.4% | 1.4% |
| 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% |
| Winneshiek County | 2.25 | 44.8 | 4.2% | 25.8% | 11.2% | 1962 | $890 | 31.7% | 96.1% | 2.1% |
| Allamakee County | 2.39 | 42.7 | 6.7% | 20.4% | 15.2% | 1968 | $744 | 22.0% | 92.0% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Lincoln County, WA · Logan County, NE · Logan County, ND · Logan County, KS · Livingston County, KY · Little River County, AR · Lipscomb County, TX · Linn County, MO · Linn County, KS · Phillips County, CO
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 Palo Alto 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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