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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Mason City

Iowa · 29,172 residents · 27.9 sq mi
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The short version

With 29,172 people, Mason City is a city in Iowa. The typical home is worth $72,500, having risen by half since 1990. Getting to work takes 10 minutes on average. Median rent is $405 a month. About 20% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The median household earns $33,852, about 21% below the national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.2
US median: 35.2
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

29,172
Unchangedsince 1990
from 29,040 in 1990
1990 – 2025
38.2
+10%since 1990
from 34.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
27.9 sq mi
Population, 19902024
27K27K28K29K29K19902000201020202024Mason City
202427K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56.2%(1,815)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.6%(1,929)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.6%(1,931)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.7%(2,251)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.6%(1,919)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.9%(3,480)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4414.8%(4,314)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5413.2%(3,843)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 648.5%(2,479)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 748.4%(2,460)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 846.6%(1,920)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.8%(831)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$33,852
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $24,146 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
$18,899
+55%since 1990
from $12,229 in 1990
US average: $21,522
10.0%
+0.4 ptssince 1990
from 9.6% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

$72,500
+26%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $43,800 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$405
−5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $322 in 1990
US average: $602
67.4%
+1.6 ptssince 1990
from 65.8% in 1990
32.6% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic97.8%(28,401)
Black1.1%(317)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(657)
Asian0.4%(128)
2000
White, non-Hispanic93.4%(27,237)
Black1.1%(332)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(1,005)
Asian0.8%(221)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican5.8%(1,565)
Bolivian0.3%(94)
Guatemalan0.2%(54)
Puerto Rican0.1%(39)
Spaniard0.1%(35)
Paraguayan0.1%(20)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.4%(102)
Chinese0.3%(83)
Vietnamese0.3%(82)
Korean0.1%(23)
Filipino0.1%(20)
Laotian0.1%(20)
Okinawan0.1%(14)
Thai0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(5)
Ancestry
German31.7%(8,581)
Norwegian10.9%(2,954)
Irish10.7%(2,902)
English6.6%(1,781)
American4.6%(1,236)
Dutch2.2%(594)
Czech2.1%(558)
Danish2%(538)
French1.9%(526)
Polish1.5%(404)
Swedish1.2%(327)
Italian1.1%(309)
+ 27 more ancestry groups with data
Greek0.6%(174)
Scottish0.6%(167)
Welsh0.4%(99)
Russian0.3%(86)
Lithuanian0.3%(78)
Swiss0.2%(65)
Arab0.2%(56)
Slovak0.2%(54)
Moroccan0.1%(35)
Croatian0.1%(34)
British0.1%(27)
Austrian0.1%(26)
Ukrainian0.1%(22)
Lebanese0.1%(21)
Serbian0.1%(18)
Finnish0.1%(16)
Macedonian0.1%(14)
Kenyan0%(8)
Section 05

Education

20.0%
+3.8 ptssince 1990
from 16.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
86.5%
+6.8 ptssince 1990
from 79.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
6.6%
+1.9 ptssince 1990
from 4.6% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

10.2 min
−13%since 1990
from 11.8 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.2%(3,036)
Married58.6%(6,322)
Widowed3.5%(376)
Divorced9.7%(1,046)
Women 15+
Never married21.2%(2,666)
Married51.1%(6,429)
Widowed15.1%(1,895)
Divorced12.6%(1,582)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

5.6%
−4.2 ptssince 2013
from 9.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
52.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2020
from 55.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
16.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 16.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
24.6%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 22.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
22.9%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 21.6% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
4.7%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 4.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
68.0%
−2.8 ptssince 2020
from 70.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
44.5%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 41.7% 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

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)23.9%(446)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.5%(326)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era28.8%(537)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War7.7%(143)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.7%(13)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,864 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Mason City, Iowa?

Mason City, Iowa has about 29,172 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Mason City, Iowa?

The typical household in Mason City, Iowa earns about $33,852 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Mason City, Iowa expensive?

In Mason City, Iowa, the median home is worth about $72,500, and the typical rent is about $405 a month.

How educated are people in Mason City, Iowa?

About 20.0% of adults age 25 and over in Mason City, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Mason City, Iowa?

About 10.0% of people in Mason City, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Mason City, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Mason City, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 132 residents, a change of about 0 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 →