Population 25,747 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Plymouth County
Household size in Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.54 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.49 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.49 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Plymouth County run a little small, averaging 2.49 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has edged down from 2.54 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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 Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.3 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.8 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.0 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.9 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Plymouth County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.9, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has crept up from 41.3 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in Plymouth County (8.8%), below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is up 2.4 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 Plymouth County
Renters in Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.5% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 26.4% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Plymouth County own their homes; 26.4% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 49.2% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest. The renter share is up 7.2 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than 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 Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Plymouth County than nationally: 6.0%, against 9.6% for the U.S. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.6 points, as it has nationally. Only three of Iowa's 99 counties have a lower vacancy rate.
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 Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1966 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Plymouth County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, 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 1964 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $573 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $624 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $662 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $891 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$318 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Plymouth County pays $891 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $318 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 21.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Plymouth County
Bachelor's degrees in Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.7% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.1% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.4% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Plymouth County: 21.6% 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 1.8 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 Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.2% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.3% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.6% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Plymouth County: 94.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.4 points, 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 Plymouth County
| Period | Plymouth County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.7% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Plymouth County has been strong: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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).
Plymouth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth County | 2.49 | 41.9 | 8.8% | 26.4% | 6.0% | 1970 | $891 | 21.6% | 94.6% | 2.3% |
| Union County | 2.33 | 41.0 | 7.4% | 26.9% | 4.2% | 1989 | $1,078 | 37.7% | 96.0% | 3.1% |
| Cherokee County | 2.26 | 45.1 | 6.8% | 24.5% | 9.3% | 1957 | $750 | 24.5% | 93.2% | 2.5% |
| Clay County | 2.24 | 30.2 | 6.5% | 49.2% | 12.4% | 1978 | $819 | 44.3% | 90.6% | 7.2% |
| Buena Vista County | 2.67 | 36.9 | 10.7% | 26.8% | 8.7% | 1964 | $926 | 21.7% | 80.6% | 5.3% |
| Pocahontas County | 2.31 | 43.4 | 7.2% | 22.7% | 17.4% | 1950 | $801 | 19.0% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Knox County | 2.42 | 44.7 | 8.5% | 21.6% | 23.5% | 1963 | $634 | 18.9% | 92.5% | 3.7% |
| Humboldt County | 2.25 | 43.3 | 13.3% | 22.8% | 9.1% | 1959 | $798 | 19.5% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
| Wright County | 2.41 | 40.1 | 13.4% | 23.0% | 14.6% | 1960 | $845 | 24.6% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Boyd County | 2.22 | 53.5 | 7.3% | 14.4% | 35.1% | 1954 | $706 | 22.0% | 96.5% | 2.3% |
| Franklin County | 2.35 | 45.8 | 10.2% | 27.6% | 10.9% | 1950 | $730 | 19.5% | 90.2% | 3.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Fayette County, TX · Steuben County, IN · Ste. Genevieve County, MO · Starke County, IN · St. James Parish, LA · St. Francis County, AR · Fulton County, IL · Freeborn County, MN · Franklin County, AL · Ford County, KS
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 Plymouth 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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