United States › Iowa › Central City CITY
Central City Iowa · 1,253 residents (2025 est.) · 1.07 sq mi
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The short version
Central City is home to 1,356 people in Iowa. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 0% of people here were born outside the United States. Owners hold 78% of the housing stock. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $179,700. Poverty is uncommon here, at 3.9% of people here.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 1,157 in 2000
1,253 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,263 / sq mi
+3%since 2009
from 1,224 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
1K 1K 1K 1K 1K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Central City Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $85,400
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,544 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,800 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.384 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 12.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.7%
Education & health services 0%
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$179,700
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$782
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $378 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.5% in 2000
22.2% rent
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.47 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 51.1% 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 98.5%(1,140)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 97.1%(1,316)
Hispanic / Latino 2.6%(35)
from 12 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
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 81.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 83.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 86.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 8.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 88.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 63.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 20.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 17.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 16.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 78.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 32.1% 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) 46.2%(42)
Gulf War (1990s) 28.6%(26)
Share of the 91 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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Drill deeper
Places similar to Central City Head to head
Compare Central City to nearby cities CENTRAL CITY VS
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CENTRAL CITY VS
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CENTRAL CITY VS
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CENTRAL CITY VS
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Income $69,144 −19%
Home value $298,500 +66%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Central City, Iowa? Central City, Iowa has about 1,356 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Central City, Iowa? The typical household in Central City, Iowa earns about $85,400 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Central City, Iowa expensive? In Central City, Iowa, the median home is worth about $179,700, and the typical rent is about $782 a month.
How educated are people in Central City, Iowa? About 18.6% of adults age 25 and over in Central City, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Central City, Iowa? About 3.9% of people in Central City, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Central City, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Central City, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 264 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.
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