United States › Iowa › Ellston CITY
Ellston Iowa · 21 residents (2025 est.) · 0.25 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
Ellston is a city of 28 people in Iowa. The population has fallen 51% since 2000. The foreign-born share is 0%. 79% of homes are owner-occupied. 100% were living in the same home a year earlier. The poverty rate is 3.6%, under the national 12.5%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Owner-heavy
79% owner-occupied
US average: 65%
Section 01
Population & growth from 57 in 2000
21 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
112 / sq mi
−20%since 2009
from 141 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 39.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
15 27 38 49 61 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ellston Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $69,167
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,625 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $10,345 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.396 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 77.8%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
Professional, scientific, technical 0%
Education & health services 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
from 87.0% in 2000
21.4% rent
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 1.97 people in 2010
US average: 2.54
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 0.0% in 2021
US average: 47.4%
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 100%(57)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 100%(28)
from 0 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 95.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 0.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation 100.0%
+63.6 ptssince 2009
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 18.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 18.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 29.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 55.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 77.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 60.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 0.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 60.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 64.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
100.0%
+16.2 ptssince 2020
from 83.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
100.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 100.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 0.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 24.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 64.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 45.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 10.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 89.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.9% 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 Drill deeper
Places similar to Ellston Head to head
Compare Ellston to nearby cities ELLSTON VS
Indianola
Income $75,453 +9%
Home value $237,500
Population 16,829 +80038%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELLSTON VS
Norwalk
Income $102,722 +49%
Home value $303,100
Population 15,004 +71348%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELLSTON VS
West Des Moines
Income $86,594 +25%
Home value $309,000
Population 74,224 +353348%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ELLSTON VS
Maryville
Income $53,352 −23%
Home value $189,400
Population 10,092 +47957%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Ellston, Iowa? Ellston, Iowa has about 28 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Ellston, Iowa? The typical household in Ellston, Iowa earns about $69,167 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
How educated are people in Ellston, Iowa? About 27.8% of adults age 25 and over in Ellston, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Ellston, Iowa? About 3.6% of people in Ellston, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Ellston, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Ellston, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 28 residents, a change of about -50 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 