Population 12,791 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Wright County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Wright County
Household size in Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.18 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Wright County run small, averaging 2.41 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has crept up from 2.38 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southwest 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 Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.3 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.1 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −4.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Wright County are younger than 40.1 and half are older, the same as the national median. The median age has dropped from 44.5 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the center.
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 Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 13.4% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Wright County than nationally: 13.4%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 4.9 points, even as the national share fell. Few Iowa counties have a higher share of single-parent households: only five of 99.
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 Wright County
Renters in Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.6% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.1% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.0% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.0% of households in Wright County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly half of owners (48.0%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.6 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.6% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 14.6% of the housing in Wright 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. Wright County has a higher vacancy rate than the great majority of Iowa counties.
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 Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1953 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Wright County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1960, 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 1953 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $466 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $555 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $641 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $845 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$379 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Wright County costs $845 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $379 a month from 2006–10, an 81% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 24.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable 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 Wright County
Bachelor's degrees in Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.2% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.4% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.6% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.3 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Wright County: 24.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Compared with other Iowa counties, though, Wright County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
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 Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.6% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.7% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.6% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.6% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Wright County is a bit above the national rate: 91.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Iowa. The share with a diploma has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, 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 Wright County
| Period | Wright County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.9% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Wright County has been strong: just 1.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.1 points from 2006–10, as it has 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).
Wright 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright County | 2.41 | 40.1 | 13.4% | 23.0% | 14.6% | 1960 | $845 | 24.6% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Humboldt County | 2.25 | 43.3 | 13.3% | 22.8% | 9.1% | 1959 | $798 | 19.5% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
| Franklin County | 2.35 | 45.8 | 10.2% | 27.6% | 10.9% | 1950 | $730 | 19.5% | 90.2% | 3.6% |
| Pocahontas County | 2.31 | 43.4 | 7.2% | 22.7% | 17.4% | 1950 | $801 | 19.0% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Butler County | 2.41 | 44.2 | 7.0% | 15.9% | 10.9% | 1957 | $743 | 21.5% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Bremer County | 2.49 | 38.7 | 8.7% | 20.3% | 8.2% | 1967 | $920 | 37.3% | 96.3% | 3.0% |
| Buena Vista County | 2.67 | 36.9 | 10.7% | 26.8% | 8.7% | 1964 | $926 | 21.7% | 80.6% | 5.3% |
| Cherokee County | 2.26 | 45.1 | 6.8% | 24.5% | 9.3% | 1957 | $750 | 24.5% | 93.2% | 2.5% |
| Fayette County | 2.22 | 43.0 | 8.7% | 23.5% | 10.5% | 1951 | $860 | 20.7% | 92.8% | 3.8% |
| Clayton County | 2.26 | 47.4 | 8.1% | 22.0% | 14.3% | 1957 | $820 | 14.3% | 92.5% | 2.6% |
| Plymouth County | 2.49 | 41.9 | 8.8% | 26.4% | 6.0% | 1970 | $891 | 21.6% | 94.6% | 2.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Nowata County, OK · Ontonagon County, MI · Oneida County, ID · Okfuskee County, OK · Ohio County, IN · Oglethorpe County, GA · Oglala Lakota County, SD · Ogemaw County, MI · O'Brien County, IA · Noxubee County, MS
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 Wright 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.