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CITY

Cherokee

Iowa · 5,122 residents (2025 est.) · 6.833 sq mi
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The short version

Cherokee has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $61,750. Population has declined 4% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $136,700.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,154
−4%since 2000
from 5,369 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
754 / sq mi
−4%since 2000
from 786 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.2
+1%since 2000
from 42.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,122 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K5K6K6K1990201020202024Cherokee
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,750
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,240 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,225
+114%since 2000
from $17,846 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.0%
+24.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.5%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.476
+16%since 2010
from 0.412 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information29.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$136,700
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$728
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $338 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 68.5% in 2000
32.2% rent
Vacancy rate
3.8%
−8.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
6.9%
−13.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.3%
+30.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+27%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
71
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cherokee on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.6%(5,185)
Black0.5%(29)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(81)
Asian0.6%(33)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.6%(353)
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.3%(4,395)
Black0.3%(18)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(416)
Asian0.8%(39)
Other5.5%(286)
Diversity Score32.9%(1,696)
Diversity Score
33
+400%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.6%
+11.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.3%
+8.1 ptssince 2000
from 84.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.7%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.4 min
+11%since 2000
from 11.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 80.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.6%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.5%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 2.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2011
from 63.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.7%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.0%
−27.4 ptssince 2009
from 53.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Female
51.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Foreign born
5.9%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−42.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.8%
−2.6 ptssince 2012
from 15.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.0%
−82.9 ptssince 2013
from 89.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.4%
+8.3 ptssince 2017
from 77.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.0%
−5.7 ptssince 2016
from 96.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.5%
+4.8 ptssince 2016
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Cherokee to nearby cities

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CHEROKEE VS
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CHEROKEE VS
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CHEROKEE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cherokee, Iowa?

Cherokee, Iowa has about 5,154 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cherokee, Iowa?

The typical household in Cherokee, Iowa earns about $61,750 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cherokee, Iowa expensive?

In Cherokee, Iowa, the median home is worth about $136,700, and the typical rent is about $728 a month.

How educated are people in Cherokee, Iowa?

About 24.6% of adults age 25 and over in Cherokee, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cherokee, Iowa?

About 18.5% of people in Cherokee, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cherokee, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Cherokee, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 872 residents, a change of about -14 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 →