Population 100,466 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Story County
Household size in Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.30 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.05 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Story County are small: just 2.36 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. Household size has edged down from 2.41 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.9 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.8 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.8 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Story County is young: half of its residents are under 33.8, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.2, in line with the national trend. Story County has the youngest population of any Iowa county.
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 Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 5.1% of households in Story County, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Iowa county has a lower share of single-parent households.
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 Story County
Renters in Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.2% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 46.2% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Story County than nationally: 44.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 43.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.8 points, even as the national share rose. No other Iowa county has a higher share of renters.
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 Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Story County as nationally: 9.3%, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 3.5 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 Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The typical home in Story County was built around 1983, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in Iowa overall, where the median home dates to 1971. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the east. Of Iowa's 99 counties, only three have newer homes.
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 Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $730 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $761 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $883 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,026 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$296 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Story County pays $1,026 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $296 a month from 2006–10, a 41% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the west.
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 Story County
Bachelor's degrees in Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.8% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 50.2% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.9% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 58.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Story County: 58.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree is up 10.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. No other Iowa county has a higher share of college graduates.
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 Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 95.5% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.7% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Story County: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.3 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Of Iowa's 99 counties, only two have a higher share of high school graduates.
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 Story County
| Period | Story County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Story County runs below the national rate: 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Story 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story County | 2.36 | 33.8 | 5.1% | 44.5% | 9.3% | 1983 | $1,026 | 58.0% | 96.8% | 4.3% |
| Boone County | 2.41 | 42.7 | 8.5% | 20.0% | 8.7% | 1961 | $930 | 28.5% | 95.1% | 1.5% |
| Marshall County | 2.58 | 39.8 | 10.7% | 25.0% | 9.5% | 1957 | $1,039 | 22.6% | 86.1% | 4.2% |
| Greene County | 2.19 | 45.9 | 8.1% | 23.6% | 10.1% | 1952 | $822 | 21.3% | 93.5% | 2.2% |
| Tama County | 2.47 | 42.6 | 13.3% | 24.0% | 11.8% | 1959 | $870 | 19.9% | 91.6% | 4.5% |
| Carroll County | 2.33 | 41.9 | 7.9% | 22.9% | 8.8% | 1960 | $809 | 24.2% | 95.3% | 1.8% |
| Benton County | 2.53 | 43.2 | 9.7% | 15.0% | 7.7% | 1967 | $843 | 25.7% | 95.3% | 1.9% |
| Crawford County | 2.51 | 40.3 | 18.5% | 24.0% | 8.3% | 1960 | $732 | 17.7% | 83.2% | 3.9% |
| Linn County | 2.44 | 39.6 | 11.3% | 26.5% | 8.3% | 1980 | $1,057 | 34.2% | 94.8% | 3.4% |
| Monona County | 2.21 | 45.5 | 8.9% | 24.3% | 11.9% | 1954 | $885 | 19.9% | 91.8% | 1.6% |
| Jones County | 2.43 | 42.9 | 13.3% | 19.4% | 7.8% | 1968 | $846 | 22.0% | 95.3% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Kankakee County, IL · Victoria County, TX · Adams County, PA · Vigo County, IN · Walton County, GA · Walworth County, WI · Wayne County, NY · Lancaster County, SC · Whitfield County, GA · Macon County, IL
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 Story 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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