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CITY

Cresco

Iowa · 3,925 residents (2025 est.) · 3.34 sq mi
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The short version

Cresco has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,608. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 21% 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 $117,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% 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
3,908
Unchangedsince 2000
from 3,905 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,170 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2000
from 1,169 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.5
−2%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,925 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K4K4K4K1990201020202024Cresco
20244K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,608
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,236 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,235
+61%since 2000
from $18,190 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.3%
+22.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.4%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.367
−9%since 2010
from 0.404 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade25.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Information18.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Education & health services2%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services1.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical1.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$117,200
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$715
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $359 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 75.8% in 2000
25.0% rent
Vacancy rate
10.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
8.6%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.0%
−20.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
−3%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
48
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cresco on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.2%(3,835)
Black0.2%(9)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(28)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.7%(107)
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.2%(3,643)
Black0.1%(4)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(204)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other1.4%(55)
Diversity Score16%(626)
Diversity Score
16
+482%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.5%
+15.3 ptssince 2000
from 80.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.8 min
+55%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.6%
−6.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.5%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.2%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.2%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.2%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 68.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.5%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.0%
−28.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.6% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−39.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2012
from 12.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.3%
−89.2 ptssince 2013
from 92.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.9%
+19.7 ptssince 2017
from 73.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 97.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.2%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Cresco to nearby cities

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CRESCO VS
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CRESCO VS
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CRESCO VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Cresco, Iowa?

Cresco, Iowa has about 3,908 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cresco, Iowa?

The typical household in Cresco, Iowa earns about $60,608 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cresco, Iowa expensive?

In Cresco, Iowa, the median home is worth about $117,200, and the typical rent is about $715 a month.

How educated are people in Cresco, Iowa?

About 20.7% of adults age 25 and over in Cresco, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cresco, Iowa?

About 13.4% of people in Cresco, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cresco, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Cresco, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 239 residents, a change of about 7 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 →