United States › Iowa › Charles City CITY
Charles City Iowa · 7,013 residents (2025 est.) · 6.12 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 7,232 people, Charles City is a city in Iowa. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 13% of adults. The typical home is worth $115,400, having more than doubled since 2000. The average commute runs 15 minutes. The foreign-born share is 4%. Median rent is $735 a month.
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 from 7,812 in 2000
7,013 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,181 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 1,219 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 41.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K 7K 8K 8K 8K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Charles City Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $59,180
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,568 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,659 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.448 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.1%
Public administration 3.1%
Transportation & warehousing 2.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.7%
Education & health services 0%
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$115,400
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $63,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$735
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $349 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 67.0% in 2000
32.1% rent
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.10 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 43.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.8 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 95.9%(7,492)
Hispanic / Latino 2.1%(166)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 85.6%(6,190)
Hispanic / Latino 5.8%(423)
from 19 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
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data from 15.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 84.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 79.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 60.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 76.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 16.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 12.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 81.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 82.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 93.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Women 15+
Never married 34.5%(1,106)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 46.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 19.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 26.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 30.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 63.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 53.5% 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) 9.9%(53)
Gulf War (1990s) 10.8%(58)
Share of the 537 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 Charles City Head to head
Compare Charles City to nearby cities CHARLES CITY VS
Waverly
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CHARLES CITY VS
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CHARLES CITY VS
Cedar Falls
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CHARLES CITY VS
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Income $57,480 −3%
Home value $152,600 +32%
Population 66,919 +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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