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CITY · 2020 ACS

Fort Madison

Iowa · 10,270 residents · 9.65 sq mi
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The short version

Fort Madison is a city of 10,270 people in Iowa. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $81,200. The foreign-born share is 1%. That trails the Iowa median by roughly 28%. At a median age of 42.2, this is an older place than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,270
−4%since 2000
from 10,715 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
42.2
+6%since 2000
from 39.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
9.65 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
10K10K11K11K12K19902000201020202024Fort Madison
202410K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.6%(570)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(594)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 145.8%(598)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.9%(608)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(554)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.2%(1,248)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4412.3%(1,259)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.5%(1,184)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6413.8%(1,414)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.4%(1,274)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.1%(627)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.3%(340)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,334
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,318 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,042
+38%since 2000
from $18,124 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
25.2%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
14.8%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade24.2%
US avg: 10%
Information9.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services2.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$81,200
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$745
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $411 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
68.9%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 69.6% in 2000
31.1% rent
Persons per household
2.22 people
+3%since 2009
from 2.16 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
1.8
+6%since 2009
from 1.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.9%(9,629)
Black2.6%(274)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(583)
Asian0.6%(65)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(8,574)
Black4.3%(444)
Hispanic / Latino6.2%(641)
Asian0.6%(63)
Other2%(204)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.6%(579)
Cuban0%(4)
Asian origin
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(8)
Ancestry
German32.7%(3,405)
Irish16.7%(1,740)
English7.4%(767)
American3.2%(330)
Scottish2.5%(261)
Swedish2.5%(261)
French2.5%(257)
Polish2.2%(230)
Dutch1.5%(155)
Italian1.5%(154)
Greek1.1%(111)
Norwegian1%(99)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Danish0.8%(83)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(43)
Russian0.4%(40)
Czech0.1%(14)
Welsh0.1%(13)
British0.1%(10)
Lebanese0.1%(9)
Iranian0.1%(9)
Belgian0%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
92.0%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 85.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.0 min
+51%since 2000
from 11.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
82.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 82.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.2%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.8%
−3.0 ptssince 2011
from 9.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
58.1%
−5.2 ptssince 2011
from 63.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
73.6%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
25.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 26.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Female
47.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.9%
−8.1 ptssince 2013
from 14.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
88.3%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
88.9%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married45.1%(2,013)
Married39.9%(1,781)
Widowed2.9%(129)
Divorced12.1%(540)
Women 15+
Never married31.3%(1,299)
Married41%(1,700)
Widowed11%(457)
Divorced16.7%(694)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.9%
−8.1 ptssince 2013
from 14.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
48.9%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
16.7%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
21.5%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
30.3%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.6%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
64.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
49.3%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)23.5%(161)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)17.1%(117)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era38.8%(266)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War14.1%(97)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II4.7%(32)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 686 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
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Fort Madison to nearby cities

FORT MADISON VS
Keokuk
Income$52,711+19%
Home value$104,300+28%
Population9,510−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT MADISON VS
Burlington
Income$59,000+33%
Home value$114,300+41%
Population23,336+135%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT MADISON VS
Mount Pleasant
Income$61,042+38%
Home value$160,900+98%
Population8,500−14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT MADISON VS
Macomb
Income$44,411same
Home value$103,300+27%
Population14,530+46%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Madison, Iowa?

Fort Madison, Iowa has about 10,270 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fort Madison, Iowa?

The typical household in Fort Madison, Iowa earns about $44,334 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Madison, Iowa expensive?

In Fort Madison, Iowa, the median home is worth about $81,200, and the typical rent is about $745 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Madison, Iowa?

About 15.9% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Madison, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Madison, Iowa?

About 14.8% of people in Fort Madison, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Madison, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Madison, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,348 residents, a change of about -12 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 →