CensusEasy
CITY

Alden

Iowa · 735 residents (2025 est.) · 1.541 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Alden has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,500. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $107,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
833
−8%since 2000
from 904 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
541 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 587 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
+7%since 2000
from 37.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:735 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7407878358829291990201020202024Alden
2024833
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,500
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,966 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$32,479
+103%since 2000
from $16,011 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.7%
+24.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.5%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.419
+21%since 2010
from 0.347 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing18.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Information17.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Construction14.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Manufacturing4%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food2.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance2.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$107,900
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$621
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $342 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.5%
−13.0 ptssince 2000
from 81.5% in 2000
31.5% rent
Vacancy rate
6.5%
−11.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
16.7%
+11.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.7
+24%since 2000
from 1.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
49
RELATED:See current rent listings in Alden on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(851)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino5.1%(46)
Asian0.2%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score12.7%(114)
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.5%(729)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino12.5%(104)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%(0)
Diversity Score27.3%(228)
Diversity Score
27
+116%since 2000
from 13 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 86.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 1.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.4 min
+5%since 2000
from 15.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
90.4%
+16.4 ptssince 2009
from 74.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.6%
−17.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.1%
−5.3 ptssince 2011
from 7.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
68.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 70.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
5.4%
−6.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
22.8%
−30.4 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.2% in 2009
Female
46.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
Foreign born
9.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−45.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.1%
+3.8 ptssince 2012
from 8.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
2.0%
−87.3 ptssince 2013
from 89.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.9%
+18.6 ptssince 2017
from 62.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.5%
−2.6 ptssince 2016
from 93.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
9.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2016
from 5.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Alden

Cedar Key
Pop 744
Paxton
Pop 695
Southport
Pop 873
Pioneer
Pop 868
Places similar to Alden
Head to head

Compare Alden to nearby cities

ALDEN VS
Ames
Income$60,991−5%
Home value$277,400+157%
Population68,220+9182%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALDEN VS
Fort Dodge
Income$60,649−6%
Home value$144,100+34%
Population24,837+3279%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALDEN VS
Boone
Income$69,222+7%
Home value$173,000+60%
Population12,471+1597%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ALDEN VS
Marshalltown
Income$69,068+7%
Home value$127,700+18%
Population27,536+3646%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Alden, Iowa?

Alden, Iowa has about 833 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Alden, Iowa?

The typical household in Alden, Iowa earns about $64,500 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Alden, Iowa expensive?

In Alden, Iowa, the median home is worth about $107,900, and the typical rent is about $621 a month.

How educated are people in Alden, Iowa?

About 13.1% of adults age 25 and over in Alden, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Alden, Iowa?

About 17.5% of people in Alden, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Alden, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Alden, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 22 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Iowa
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Alden with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →