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CITY

Charles City

Iowa · 7,013 residents (2025 est.) · 6.124 sq mi
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The short version

Charles City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $59,180. Population has declined 7% 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 $115,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.0
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
7,232
−7%since 2000
from 7,812 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,181 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 1,276 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.0
+1%since 2000
from 41.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,013 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K8K8K8K1990201020202024Charles City
20247K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$59,180
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,568 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,770
+85%since 2000
from $16,659 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.1%
+20.0 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.398
−11%since 2010
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance0.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$115,400
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$735
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $349 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 67.0% in 2000
32.1% rent
Vacancy rate
13.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.1%
−7.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.8%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
−6%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
37
RELATED:See current rent listings in Charles City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.9%(7,492)
Black0.4%(32)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(166)
Asian0.6%(50)
Other0%
Diversity Score7.8%(611)
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.6%(6,190)
Black1.9%(141)
Hispanic / Latino5.8%(423)
Asian3.2%(234)
Other3.4%(244)
Diversity Score32.7%(2,363)
Diversity Score
33
+318%since 2000
from 8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.6%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.2 min
+14%since 2000
from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.9%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.1%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.7%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 6.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2011
from 60.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.6%
−36.1 ptssince 2009
from 62.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
Female
51.4%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
Foreign born
3.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.5%
−34.8 ptssince 2009
from 44.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2012
from 16.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.8%
−86.2 ptssince 2013
from 88.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.4%
+10.3 ptssince 2017
from 73.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2016
from 93.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2016
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Charles City to nearby cities

CHARLES CITY VS
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Income$80,284+36%
Home value$223,300+94%
Population10,561+51%
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CHARLES CITY VS
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Home value$142,000+23%
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CHARLES CITY VS
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CHARLES CITY VS
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Income$57,480−3%
Home value$152,600+32%
Population66,919+854%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Charles City, Iowa?

Charles City, Iowa has about 7,232 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Charles City, Iowa?

The typical household in Charles City, Iowa earns about $59,180 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Charles City, Iowa expensive?

In Charles City, Iowa, the median home is worth about $115,400, and the typical rent is about $735 a month.

How educated are people in Charles City, Iowa?

About 12.8% of adults age 25 and over in Charles City, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Charles City, Iowa?

About 13.3% of people in Charles City, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Charles City, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Charles City, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 646 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →