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CITY

Royal

Iowa · 375 residents (2025 est.) · 0.295 sq mi
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The short version

Royal has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,893. Population has grown 22% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $87,200. At a median age of 30.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% 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
585
+22%since 2000
from 479 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,983 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 1,624 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
30.0
−17%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:375 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2883734585426271990201020202024Royal
2024585
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,893
−17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,500 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,264
+39%since 2000
from $18,118 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.2%
+17.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.0%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.274
−17%since 2010
from 0.330 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade37.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food3.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services3.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$87,200
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$895
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $329 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.9%
−11.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.3% in 2000
34.1% rent
Vacancy rate
5.5%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.3%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
2.9%
−22.6 ptssince 2009
from 25.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.5
+18%since 2000
from 1.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
35
RELATED:See current rent listings in Royal on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.7%(473)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(4)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.1%(10)
2024
White, non-Hispanic76.1%(445)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino11.6%(68)
Asian0%(0)
Other12.3%(72)
Diversity Score49.1%(287)
Diversity Score
49
+2261%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 14.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+122%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
62.5%
−23.5 ptssince 2009
from 86.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
27.1%
+20.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.0%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
71.7%
−5.6 ptssince 2011
from 77.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
17.3%
−39.1 ptssince 2009
from 56.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.0%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Female
48.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Foreign born
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−42.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.6%
−3.1 ptssince 2012
from 14.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.4%
−79.1 ptssince 2013
from 86.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.3%
+12.1 ptssince 2017
from 76.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.6%
−8.7 ptssince 2016
from 98.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
10.4%
+10.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Royal, Iowa?

Royal, Iowa has about 585 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Royal, Iowa?

The typical household in Royal, Iowa earns about $56,893 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Royal, Iowa expensive?

In Royal, Iowa, the median home is worth about $87,200, and the typical rent is about $895 a month.

How educated are people in Royal, Iowa?

About 15.3% of adults age 25 and over in Royal, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Royal, Iowa?

About 12.0% of people in Royal, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Royal, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Royal, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 107 residents, a change of about 22 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 →

Royal, Iowa: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy