CensusEasy
CITY

Onawa

Iowa · 2,821 residents (2025 est.) · 5.268 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Onawa has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $62,143. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $145,800.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
2,839
−8%since 2000
from 3,091 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
539 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 587 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.5
−16%since 2000
from 42.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:2,821 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3K3K3K3K3K1990201020202024Onawa
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$62,143
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,796 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,522
+65%since 2000
from $17,928 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.0%
+28.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.3%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.407
+3%since 2010
from 0.394 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade11%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade8.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration7.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$145,800
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,037
+46%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $390 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 73.0% in 2000
26.3% rent
Vacancy rate
8.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.7%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.7%
+14.3 ptssince 2009
from 38.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+38%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
60
RELATED:See current rent listings in Onawa on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.1%(3,001)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(33)
Asian0.2%(6)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.3%(101)
2024
White, non-Hispanic94%(2,670)
Black0.5%(14)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(43)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.9%(112)
Diversity Score14.2%(404)
Diversity Score
14
+337%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 15.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.3%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 81.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.5%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.4 min
+23%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 81.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.8%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
1.5%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.2%
−6.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 59.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.3%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.3%
−21.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.9%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
54.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.7%
−36.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2012
from 18.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.3%
−84.2 ptssince 2013
from 89.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.3%
+15.7 ptssince 2017
from 68.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 0.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Onawa

Inverness Highlands North
Pop 2,830
Hurlburt Field
Pop 2,951
Grenelefe
Pop 2,797
Mangonia Park
Pop 2,667
Places similar to Onawa
Head to head

Compare Onawa to nearby cities

ONAWA VS
South Sioux City
Income$68,223+10%
Home value$174,700+20%
Population14,158+402%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ONAWA VS
Sioux City
Income$68,906+11%
Home value$173,600+19%
Population86,356+2961%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ONAWA VS
Denison
Income$65,684+6%
Home value$150,200+3%
Population8,214+191%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ONAWA VS
Fremont
Income$71,152+14%
Home value$214,700+47%
Population28,350+905%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Onawa, Iowa?

Onawa, Iowa has about 2,839 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Onawa, Iowa?

The typical household in Onawa, Iowa earns about $62,143 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Onawa, Iowa expensive?

In Onawa, Iowa, the median home is worth about $145,800, and the typical rent is about $1,037 a month.

How educated are people in Onawa, Iowa?

About 19.4% of adults age 25 and over in Onawa, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Onawa, Iowa?

About 16.3% of people in Onawa, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Onawa, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Onawa, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 97 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Iowa
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Onawa with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →