Population 18,545 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Poweshiek County
Household size in Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.25 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.17 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.19 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Poweshiek County are small: just 2.19 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. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.25, in line with the national trend. Few Iowa counties have smaller households: only seven of 99.
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 Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.2 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Poweshiek County are younger than 41.2 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 40.5, a smaller shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the west.
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 Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Poweshiek County: 7.2% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has edged down 1.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Poweshiek County
Renters in Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.8% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.2% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.4% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.8% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Poweshiek County own their homes; 28.8% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (43.8%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the northeast. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 7.0 points, 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 Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.1% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Poweshiek County: 11.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
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 Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Poweshiek County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1965, 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 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
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 Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $560 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $680 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $779 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $881 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$321 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Poweshiek County runs $881 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $321 a month since 2006–10, up 57%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Poweshiek County
Bachelor's degrees in Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.9% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.7% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Poweshiek County than nationally: 28.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.6 points, in line with the national trend. 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 Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.5% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.4% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.7% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Poweshiek County: 94.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.2 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 Poweshiek County
| Period | Poweshiek County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Poweshiek County than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. 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).
Poweshiek 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poweshiek County | 2.19 | 41.2 | 7.2% | 28.8% | 11.7% | 1965 | $881 | 28.4% | 94.7% | 3.5% |
| Jasper County | 2.44 | 41.6 | 10.4% | 27.7% | 9.6% | 1964 | $870 | 20.3% | 94.1% | 7.2% |
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 43.5 | 9.6% | 23.4% | 5.9% | 1967 | $775 | 25.3% | 95.4% | 1.7% |
| Polk County | 2.51 | 37.0 | 12.0% | 32.6% | 6.9% | 1981 | $1,241 | 40.5% | 91.7% | 5.0% |
| Johnson County | 2.40 | 34.6 | 6.9% | 40.6% | 7.5% | 1989 | $1,205 | 55.7% | 96.1% | 3.8% |
| Dallas County | 2.59 | 36.9 | 8.1% | 31.0% | 5.9% | 2000 | $1,300 | 52.3% | 95.5% | 2.3% |
| Cedar County | 2.42 | 44.8 | 10.1% | 18.5% | 9.2% | 1967 | $916 | 23.7% | 95.8% | 2.2% |
| Guthrie County | 2.30 | 45.0 | 7.7% | 16.0% | 19.7% | 1962 | $825 | 24.9% | 95.8% | 3.1% |
| Clinton County | 2.39 | 43.0 | 11.7% | 25.5% | 9.4% | 1959 | $930 | 23.2% | 93.6% | 3.5% |
| Audubon County | 2.16 | 47.3 | 7.8% | 23.8% | 8.1% | 1948 | $758 | 21.2% | 92.1% | 1.5% |
| Shelby County | 2.41 | 44.4 | 7.5% | 22.2% | 11.9% | 1953 | $777 | 25.1% | 95.5% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Crook County, OR · Todd County, KY · Tishomingo County, MS · Tipton County, IN · Tillamook County, OR · Dawson County, GA · Dakota County, NE · Custer County, OK · Curry County, OR · Currituck County, NC
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 Poweshiek 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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