Palo is a city of 1,438 people in Iowa. 97% of homes are owner-occupied. Since 2000 the city has more than doubled, up 824 people. Few US cities rank higher on income. The median age is 32.7, younger than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 42% more than in Iowa as a whole.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $106,375, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 63%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Palo
What changed most since 1990
Population524 → 1,438(+174%)US over the same years: +35%
Homes owned by their occupants74.9% → 97.5%(+22.6 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Median home value (2024 dollars)$116,643 → $282,400(+142%)US over the same years: +67%
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)17%(9)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)45.3%(24)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era26.4%(14)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 53 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
Over time
Palo, decade by decade
Palo population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
524
$78,002
$116,643
7.6%
3.3
2000
614
$97,564
$173,604
10.3%
4.0
2010
1,026
$111,639
$251,750
23.1%
9.0
2020
1,407
$99,488
$245,317
20.5%
16.7
2024
1,438
$106,375
$282,400
27.2%
14.4
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
