United States › Iowa › Red Oak CITY · 2020 ACS
Red Oak Iowa · 5,596 residents · 3.93 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Red Oak is home to 5,596 people in Iowa. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Median home value sits at $77,400. 0% of people here were born outside the United States. At a median age of 42.6, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Renters pay $647 a month at the median.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 9%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 39.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K 6K 6K 6K 6K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Red Oak Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $50,524
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,098 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,793 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.9%
Transportation & warehousing 3.5%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.9%
Public administration 2.7%
Education & health services 2%
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$77,400
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $56,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$647
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $375 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 68.7% in 2000
35.9% rent
from 2.17 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.3 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.4%(5,974)
Hispanic / Latino 2.1%(133)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 90.3%(5,051)
Hispanic / Latino 5.5%(308)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 79.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 73.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 58.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 24.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 14.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 5.8%(20)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.3%(49)
Share of the 343 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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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Red Oak, Iowa? Red Oak, Iowa has about 5,596 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Red Oak, Iowa? The typical household in Red Oak, Iowa earns about $50,524 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Red Oak, Iowa expensive? In Red Oak, Iowa, the median home is worth about $77,400, and the typical rent is about $647 a month.
How educated are people in Red Oak, Iowa? About 18.2% of adults age 25 and over in Red Oak, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Red Oak, Iowa? About 14.3% of people in Red Oak, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Red Oak, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Red Oak, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 668 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.
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