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CITY

Indianola

Iowa · 16,829 residents (2025 est.) · 11.435 sq mi
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The short version

Indianola has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $75,453. Population has grown 23% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $237,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.9
US median: 38.9
Average education
35% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,044
+23%since 2000
from 12,998 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,403 / sq mi
+23%since 2000
from 1,137 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.9
+7%since 2000
from 33.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,829 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K12K14K15K17K1990201020202024Indianola
202416K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$75,453
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,725 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,086
+84%since 2000
from $19,574 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
50.4%
+19.2 ptssince 2009
from 31.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.4%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.390
−4%since 2010
from 0.404 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services12.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration10.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade6.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$237,500
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $98,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$986
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $487 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 66.2% in 2000
30.1% rent
Vacancy rate
5.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.8%
+11.9 ptssince 2009
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+40%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
44
RELATED:See current rent listings in Indianola on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.4%(12,661)
Black0.4%(52)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(111)
Asian0.5%(66)
Other0%
Diversity Score4.4%(570)
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.8%(14,723)
Black1%(160)
Hispanic / Latino2.9%(459)
Asian0.9%(151)
Other3.4%(551)
Diversity Score19.5%(3,123)
Diversity Score
19
+344%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.0%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 27.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.2%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 90.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.9%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.8 min
+38%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 74.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.6%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.3%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 4.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.5%
−7.6 ptssince 2011
from 73.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.6%
−31.6 ptssince 2009
from 69.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 46.7% in 2009
Female
52.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−39.1 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2012
from 10.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.5%
−91.5 ptssince 2013
from 93.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.0%
+12.5 ptssince 2017
from 78.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 96.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Indianola to nearby cities

INDIANOLA VS
Norwalk
Income$102,722+36%
Home value$303,100+28%
Population15,004−11%
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INDIANOLA VS
Des Moines
Income$65,932−13%
Home value$194,700−18%
Population212,086+1160%
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INDIANOLA VS
Pleasant Hill
Income$90,508+20%
Home value$295,100+24%
Population11,239−33%
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INDIANOLA VS
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Income$86,594+15%
Home value$309,000+30%
Population74,224+341%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Indianola, Iowa?

Indianola, Iowa has about 16,044 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Indianola, Iowa?

The typical household in Indianola, Iowa earns about $75,453 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Indianola, Iowa expensive?

In Indianola, Iowa, the median home is worth about $237,500, and the typical rent is about $986 a month.

How educated are people in Indianola, Iowa?

About 35.0% of adults age 25 and over in Indianola, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Indianola, Iowa?

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

Has Indianola, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Indianola, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,704 residents, a change of about 41 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 →

Indianola, Iowa: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy