Population 16,868 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Tama County
Household size in Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.48 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Tama County run small, averaging 2.47 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Iowa as a whole looks much the same. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
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 Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.1 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Tama County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.6, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 40.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the east.
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 Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.9% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in eight households in Tama County (13.3%), a bit above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.8 points, even as the national share fell. Only six of Iowa's 99 counties have a higher 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 Tama County
Renters in Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.9% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.2% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.0% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Tama County is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 45.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 2.0 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 Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.8% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Tama County than nationally: 11.8%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 2.9 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 Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1954 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1954 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Tama County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1959, 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 1954 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southwest, while the east 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 Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $574 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $610 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $726 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $870 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$296 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Tama County pays $870 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $296 a month since 2006–10, up 52%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the center and lowest in the northwest.
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 Tama County
Bachelor's degrees in Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.2% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.9% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Tama County: 19.9% 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 3.5 points, as it has 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 Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.6% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.0% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.6% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Tama County have finished high school (91.6%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Iowa. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Tama County
| Period | Tama County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Tama County than nationally: unemployment was 4.5%, against 5.4%. Even so, the rate is higher than in Iowa as a whole (3.7%). 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).
Tama 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tama County | 2.47 | 42.6 | 13.3% | 24.0% | 11.8% | 1959 | $870 | 19.9% | 91.6% | 4.5% |
| Marshall County | 2.58 | 39.8 | 10.7% | 25.0% | 9.5% | 1957 | $1,039 | 22.6% | 86.1% | 4.2% |
| Benton County | 2.53 | 43.2 | 9.7% | 15.0% | 7.7% | 1967 | $843 | 25.7% | 95.3% | 1.9% |
| Linn County | 2.44 | 39.6 | 11.3% | 26.5% | 8.3% | 1980 | $1,057 | 34.2% | 94.8% | 3.4% |
| Story County | 2.36 | 33.8 | 5.1% | 44.5% | 9.3% | 1983 | $1,026 | 58.0% | 96.8% | 4.3% |
| Jones County | 2.43 | 42.9 | 13.3% | 19.4% | 7.8% | 1968 | $846 | 22.0% | 95.3% | 4.4% |
| Boone County | 2.41 | 42.7 | 8.5% | 20.0% | 8.7% | 1961 | $930 | 28.5% | 95.1% | 1.5% |
| Greene County | 2.19 | 45.9 | 8.1% | 23.6% | 10.1% | 1952 | $822 | 21.3% | 93.5% | 2.2% |
| Jackson County | 2.39 | 45.4 | 6.3% | 19.3% | 11.0% | 1965 | $853 | 19.1% | 94.3% | 5.5% |
| Carroll County | 2.33 | 41.9 | 7.9% | 22.9% | 8.8% | 1960 | $809 | 24.2% | 95.3% | 1.8% |
| Carroll County | 2.18 | 46.7 | 8.1% | 22.8% | 18.7% | 1959 | $836 | 18.3% | 89.0% | 2.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Audrain County, MO · Bell County, KY · Beckham County, OK · Beadle County, SD · Bath County, KY · Bates County, MO · Barton County, MO · Barton County, KS · Barnwell County, SC · Barbour County, AL
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 Tama 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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