CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Charles City

Iowa · 7,878 residents · 6.12 sq mi

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The short version

With 7,878 people, Charles City is a city in Iowa. The median age is 39.2, about 6 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $35,700. Renters pay $255 a month at the median. Households here earn about 20% less than in Iowa as a whole. About 14% of adults have finished a four-year degree.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 39.2

US median: 33.0

Less educated

14% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 26%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

7,878

+1%vs 2000

vs 7,812 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

39.2

−6%vs 2000

vs 41.6 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

6.12 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20247K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 55.9%(463)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 96.5%(509)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 147.4%(586)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 196.4%(503)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 245.6%(441)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3412%(945)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4413.2%(1,041)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 548.7%(688)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 6410%(787)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 7411.9%(940)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 847.8%(618)

US avg: 4%

85 and over4.5%(357)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$21,003

−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $30,568 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$11,073

−34%vs 2000

vs $16,659 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

14.0%

+2.8 ptsvs 2000

vs 11.2% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$35,700

−26%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $63,700 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$255

−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $349 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

68.1%

+1.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 67.0% in 2000

31.9% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic95.9%(7,492)

Black0.4%(32)

Hispanic / Latino2.1%(166)

Asian0.6%(50)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic99.5%(7,836)

Black0%(0)

Hispanic / Latino1.1%(86)

Asian0.1%(6)

Other0.5%(36)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican5.3%(385)

Puerto Rican0.4%(29)

Dominican0.1%(5)

Central American0.1%(4)

Salvadoran0.1%(4)

Asian origin

Filipino1.5%(110)

Laotian1.4%(103)

Asian Indian0.2%(13)

Vietnamese0.1%(8)

Pacific Islander origin

Chamorro0.1%(10)

Ancestry

German45.6%(3,299)

Irish13.2%(958)

English6.5%(471)

Norwegian5.9%(425)

American5.5%(395)

Scottish1.7%(125)

French1.5%(107)

Polish1.2%(89)

Scotch-Irish1%(69)

Swedish0.9%(63)

Danish0.6%(41)

Czech0.5%(36)

+ 7 more ancestry groups with data

West Indian0.4%(30)

Haitian0.4%(30)

Welsh0.4%(27)

Dutch0.3%(25)

Russian0.2%(14)

Swiss0.1%(7)

Italian0%(1)

RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest American population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

13.8%

−1.8 ptsvs 2000

vs 15.6% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

77.3%

−6.7 ptsvs 2000

vs 84.0% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

4.0%

+0.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 3.7% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

15.9 min

+20%vs 2000

vs 13.3 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married28.7%(806)

Married54.2%(1,524)

Widowed3.8%(107)

Divorced13.3%(374)

Women 15+

Never married34.5%(1,106)

Married40.5%(1,297)

Widowed9.5%(306)

Divorced15.5%(497)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

1.8%

−10.2 ptssince 2013

from 12.0% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

46.6%

+0.1 ptssince 2020

from 46.5% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

18.4%

−1.2 ptssince 2020

from 19.6% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

25.8%

−0.7 ptssince 2020

from 26.5% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

34.6%

+3.9 ptssince 2020

from 30.7% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

5.4%

+1.9 ptssince 2020

from 3.5% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

63.1%

−0.2 ptssince 2020

from 63.3% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

57.0%

+3.5 ptssince 2020

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)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)10.8%(58)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era36.9%(198)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War7.1%(38)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II1.9%(10)

US avg: 1%

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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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