United States › Iowa › Alta CITY
Alta Iowa · 1,958 residents (2025 est.) · 1.08 sq mi
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The short version
With 2,250 people, Alta is a city in Iowa. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $146,600. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. The average commute runs 14 minutes. 25% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% 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 from 1,865 in 2000
1,958 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,087 / sq mi
+16%since 2009
from 1,800 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 2K 2K 2K 2K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Alta Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $65,833
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,941 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,908 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.460 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.4%
Public administration 3.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.8%
Education & health services 0.6%
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$146,600
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$894
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $431 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 72.5% in 2000
21.7% rent
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.82 people
+17%since 2009
from 2.42 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 86.5%(1,614)
Hispanic / Latino 10.6%(198)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 56%(1,260)
Hispanic / Latino 16.4%(369)
from 30 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data from 16.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 80.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 9.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 68.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 83.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 11.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 81.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 91.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 81.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 86.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 12.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 11.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 21.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 72.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 40.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 31.3%(20)
Share of the 64 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Alta, Iowa? Alta, Iowa has about 2,250 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Alta, Iowa? The typical household in Alta, Iowa earns about $65,833 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Alta, Iowa expensive? In Alta, Iowa, the median home is worth about $146,600, and the typical rent is about $894 a month.
How educated are people in Alta, Iowa? About 21.2% of adults age 25 and over in Alta, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Alta, Iowa? About 10.2% of people in Alta, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Alta, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Alta, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 426 residents, a change of about 23 percent over that period.
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