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CITY

Colo

Iowa · 838 residents (2025 est.) · 1.065 sq mi
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The short version

Colo has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,000. Population has fallen 21% since 2000, a loss of 182 residents. 19% 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 $152,000.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% 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
686
−21%since 2000
from 868 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
644 / sq mi
−21%since 2000
from 815 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.2
+17%since 2000
from 36.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:838 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6567468359241K1990201020202024Colo
2024686
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$64,000
−16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,711 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,526
+111%since 2000
from $19,173 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.4%
+22.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.396
+10%since 2010
from 0.359 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information7.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance3.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food3.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction2.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services2.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Manufacturing1.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$152,000
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$950
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $475 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
83.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.6% in 2000
16.7% rent
Vacancy rate
13.4%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.9%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 42.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+37%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
25
RELATED:See current rent listings in Colo on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.5%(846)
Black0.9%(8)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(2)
Asian0.5%(4)
Other0%
Diversity Score4%(35)
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.8%(630)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino4.8%(33)
Asian1%(7)
Other2.3%(16)
Diversity Score19.2%(132)
Diversity Score
19
+377%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 21.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 93.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.1 min
+110%since 2000
from 14.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 87.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.6%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.1%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−2.0 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
3.7%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 70.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.2%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.5%
−21.5 ptssince 2009
from 59.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
48.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.9%
−39.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.6%
+5.5 ptssince 2012
from 9.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.7%
−83.3 ptssince 2013
from 92.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.7%
+8.3 ptssince 2017
from 79.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 98.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Colo to nearby cities

COLO VS
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Home value$277,400+83%
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COLO VS
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COLO VS
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COLO VS
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Home value$331,000+118%
Population77,833+9188%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Colo, Iowa?

Colo, Iowa has about 686 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Colo, Iowa?

The typical household in Colo, Iowa earns about $64,000 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Colo, Iowa expensive?

In Colo, Iowa, the median home is worth about $152,000, and the typical rent is about $950 a month.

How educated are people in Colo, Iowa?

About 19.0% of adults age 25 and over in Colo, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Colo, Iowa?

About 6.4% of people in Colo, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Colo, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Colo, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 112 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 →