United States › Iowa › Northwood CITY
Northwood Iowa · 2,056 residents (2025 est.) · 3.99 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 2,040 people, Northwood is a city in Iowa. At a median age of 47.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Owners hold 83% of the housing stock. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $130,300. 3% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 25%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 2,050 in 2000
2,056 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 475 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 43.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 2K 2K 2K 2K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Northwood Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $63,450
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,030 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,167 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 7.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.382 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5%
Public administration 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.8%
Education & health services 0.7%
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$130,300
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$706
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $340 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 73.6% in 2000
17.5% rent
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.01 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 39.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.2 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.4%(1,976)
Hispanic / Latino 2.4%(49)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 93.1%(1,899)
Hispanic / Latino 3.7%(75)
from 12 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data from 14.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 83.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 65.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 90.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 22.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 12.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 9.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 63.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 84.8% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 9.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 60.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 19.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 18.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 5.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 77.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 36.8% 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) 14.2%(28)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.9%(51)
Share of the 197 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.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Northwood, Iowa? Northwood, Iowa has about 2,040 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Northwood, Iowa? The typical household in Northwood, Iowa earns about $63,450 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Northwood, Iowa expensive? In Northwood, Iowa, the median home is worth about $130,300, and the typical rent is about $706 a month.
How educated are people in Northwood, Iowa? About 15.9% of adults age 25 and over in Northwood, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Northwood, Iowa? About 8.8% of people in Northwood, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Northwood, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Northwood, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 84 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.
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