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CITY

Prairie City

Iowa · 1,724 residents (2025 est.) · 1.242 sq mi
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The short version

Prairie City has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,295. Population has grown 25% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $190,600. Poverty is rare here, at 3.4% of residents.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,711
+25%since 2000
from 1,365 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,378 / sq mi
+25%since 2000
from 1,099 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.0
−9%since 2000
from 39.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,724 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K2K2K2K2K1990201020202024Prairie City
20242K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,295
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $42,750 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,732
+85%since 2000
from $19,864 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.5%
+18.0 ptssince 2009
from 34.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
3.4%
−2.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.344
−6%since 2010
from 0.367 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services16.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration15.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Information13.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing3.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$190,600
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $92,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$800
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 76.1% in 2000
23.4% rent
Vacancy rate
5.6%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
10.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
22.2%
−12.6 ptssince 2009
from 34.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+13%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
55
RELATED:See current rent listings in Prairie City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.9%(1,337)
Black0.3%(4)
Hispanic / Latino1%(13)
Asian0.2%(3)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.6%(50)
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.4%(1,650)
Black0.6%(11)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(18)
Asian0.1%(2)
Other1.8%(30)
Diversity Score8.7%(149)
Diversity Score
9
+139%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.8%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 17.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.9%
+10.1 ptssince 2000
from 86.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.4 min
+56%since 2000
from 17.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 76.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.8%
−14.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.8%
+14.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% 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
1.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.4%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 8.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
72.9%
+7.3 ptssince 2011
from 65.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.0%
−21.8 ptssince 2009
from 61.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Female
51.7%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−39.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2012
from 11.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.9%
−94.9 ptssince 2013
from 96.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.4%
+6.8 ptssince 2017
from 82.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 98.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.5%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Prairie City to nearby cities

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PRAIRIE CITY VS
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PRAIRIE CITY VS
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PRAIRIE CITY VS
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Home value$295,100+55%
Population11,239+552%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Prairie City, Iowa?

Prairie City, Iowa has about 1,711 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Prairie City, Iowa earns about $78,295 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Prairie City, Iowa expensive?

In Prairie City, Iowa, the median home is worth about $190,600, and the typical rent is about $800 a month.

How educated are people in Prairie City, Iowa?

About 29.8% of adults age 25 and over in Prairie City, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Prairie City, Iowa?

About 3.4% of people in Prairie City, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Prairie City, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Prairie City, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 351 residents, a change of about 26 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 →