Population 7,046 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Pocahontas County
Household size in Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.17 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.18 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.07 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.31 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.14 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Pocahontas County is a place of small households, averaging 2.31 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has climbed from 2.17 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest 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 Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.6 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.9 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.6 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.4 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −3.2 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Pocahontas County is 43.4 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 46.6, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the southeast.
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 Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.5% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Pocahontas County: 7.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged up 1.0 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 Pocahontas County
Renters in Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.7% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.5% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.7% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.7% of households in Pocahontas County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly six in ten owners (57.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the northeast. The renter share has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.5% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.0% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.5% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 17.4% of the housing in Pocahontas County, 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. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.9 points, 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 Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1948 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1951 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1950 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +6 | +6 |
Pocahontas County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1950, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the southeast has the oldest housing. Few Iowa counties have older homes: only five of 99.
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 Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $481 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $517 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $576 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $801 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$320 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Pocahontas County costs $801 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $320 a month from 2006–10, a 67% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 22.9% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northeast; the highest 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 Pocahontas County
Bachelor's degrees in Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.3% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.0% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Pocahontas County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.0%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 2.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Pocahontas County has a lower share of college graduates than the great majority of Iowa counties.
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 Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.6% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.7% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.3% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.7% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Pocahontas County have finished high school as nationally: 90.7%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Iowa overall (93.0%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged down 0.9 points, even as the national rate rose.
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 Pocahontas County
| Period | Pocahontas County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.4% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Pocahontas County is the same as the national rate: 5.4% of the labor force. The rate is higher than in Iowa as a whole (3.7%). Unemployment has edged up 0.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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).
Pocahontas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocahontas County | 2.31 | 43.4 | 7.2% | 22.7% | 17.4% | 1950 | $801 | 19.0% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Buena Vista County | 2.67 | 36.9 | 10.7% | 26.8% | 8.7% | 1964 | $926 | 21.7% | 80.6% | 5.3% |
| Humboldt County | 2.25 | 43.3 | 13.3% | 22.8% | 9.1% | 1959 | $798 | 19.5% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
| Cherokee County | 2.26 | 45.1 | 6.8% | 24.5% | 9.3% | 1957 | $750 | 24.5% | 93.2% | 2.5% |
| Wright County | 2.41 | 40.1 | 13.4% | 23.0% | 14.6% | 1960 | $845 | 24.6% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Franklin County | 2.35 | 45.8 | 10.2% | 27.6% | 10.9% | 1950 | $730 | 19.5% | 90.2% | 3.6% |
| 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% |
| Butler County | 2.41 | 44.2 | 7.0% | 15.9% | 10.9% | 1957 | $743 | 21.5% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Clay County | 2.24 | 30.2 | 6.5% | 49.2% | 12.4% | 1978 | $819 | 44.3% | 90.6% | 7.2% |
| Bremer County | 2.49 | 38.7 | 8.7% | 20.3% | 8.2% | 1967 | $920 | 37.3% | 96.3% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Sheridan County, MT · Floyd County, VA · Foard County, TX · Forest County, PA · Golden Valley County, ND · Graham County, KS · Shackelford County, TX · Shelby County, MO · Sheridan County, KS · Floyd County, TX
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 Pocahontas 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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