Population 3,376 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in West Branch
Household size in West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.45 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in West Branch run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of Iowa.
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 West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.0 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.2 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
West Branch skews a little older than the country: its median age is 42.2, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.6, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in West Branch than nationally: 10.0%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Iowa.
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 West Branch
Renters in West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.0% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.9% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
West Branch is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.8% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 38.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as 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 West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 2.7% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in West Branch: 8.1% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across Iowa.
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 West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1973 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +19 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in West Branch are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S.
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 West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $640 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $690 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $752 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,041 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$401 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in West Branch pays $1,041 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. That is in line with the rest of Iowa. Rent takes 25.0% 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 West Branch
Bachelor's degrees in West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.3% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 27.4% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in West Branch (32.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. That is in line with the rest of Iowa.
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 West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.0% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in West Branch: 96.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 West Branch
| Period | West Branch | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.7% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.8% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.3% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in West Branch has been strong: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Iowa as a whole looks much the same. 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).
West Branch compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Branch | 2.42 | 42.2 | 10.0% | 16.8% | 8.1% | 1987 | $1,041 | 32.3% | 96.5% | 3.1% |
| Oasis | 2.24 | 51.5 | 8.8% | 19.4% | 9.0% | 1970 | $1,180 | 36.1% | 96.9% | 1.8% |
| Springdale | 2.23 | 49.6 | 10.8% | 16.3% | 5.9% | 1948 | $965 | 26.0% | 97.4% | 6.8% |
| Downey | 2.49 | 48.6 | 11.9% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 1978 | $1,076 | 27.3% | 98.4% | 7.4% |
| Cedar Bluff | 2.92 | 41.5 | 4.5% | 10.7% | 13.0% | 1975 | $735 | 27.0% | 97.8% | 5.2% |
| West Liberty | 2.74 | 37.4 | 22.5% | 18.4% | 4.6% | 1973 | $1,024 | 22.4% | 79.2% | 2.5% |
| Morse | 2.44 | 57.2 | 5.7% | 9.7% | 8.5% | 1986 | $1,255 | 57.2% | 98.8% | 6.6% |
| Rochester | 2.43 | 48.5 | 10.5% | 14.1% | 5.0% | 1971 | $965 | 18.5% | 97.9% | 0.0% |
| Iowa City | 2.32 | 32.3 | 6.3% | 49.1% | 9.5% | 1984 | $1,206 | 58.7% | 95.3% | 5.1% |
| University Heights | 2.46 | 27.8 | 1.3% | 48.7% | 15.2% | 1966 | $1,546 | 85.5% | 98.7% | 1.0% |
| Atalissa | 2.40 | 41.8 | 13.9% | 7.5% | 2.2% | 1970 | $793 | 11.2% | 89.2% | 6.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Wilson, NY · South Whitley, IN · Sutherland, VA · Swepsonville, NC · Trail Creek, IN · Alexandria, OH · Van Wyck, SC · Juliette, GA · Veedersburg, IN · Weidman, MI
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 West Branch. 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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