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CITY

Swea City

Iowa · 541 residents (2025 est.) · 0.767 sq mi
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The short version

Swea City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $47,656. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 15% 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 $56,400. The poverty rate of 27.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 37% less than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.3
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
591
−8%since 2000
from 642 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
771 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 837 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.3
−9%since 2000
from 43.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:541 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5045686326967601990201020202024Swea City
2024591
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,656
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,250 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,091
+122%since 2000
from $14,937 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.9%
+27.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
27.0%
+14.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.432
+6%since 2010
from 0.408 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade22.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade11.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Information8%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance2.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services1.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$56,400
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$661
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $343 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.5%
−11.0 ptssince 2000
from 80.5% in 2000
30.5% rent
Vacancy rate
7.9%
−12.8 ptssince 2009
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.3%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
19.8%
−35.6 ptssince 2009
from 55.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.2
+10%since 2000
from 1.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
32
RELATED:See current rent listings in Swea City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(621)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(17)
Asian0.2%(1)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.9%(44)
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.6%(500)
Black9.3%(55)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(10)
Asian0%(0)
Other4.4%(26)
Diversity Score34.2%(202)
Diversity Score
34
+399%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.9%
+11.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 2.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.5 min
+64%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.0%
+9.0 ptssince 2009
from 68.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
1.4%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.8%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2011
from 2.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 63.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.2%
−10.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.8%
−36.7 ptssince 2009
from 64.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
Female
55.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 54.8% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.9%
−30.0 ptssince 2009
from 41.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
31.5%
+17.9 ptssince 2012
from 13.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.3%
−75.9 ptssince 2013
from 82.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.6%
+19.0 ptssince 2017
from 62.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.3%
+5.6 ptssince 2016
from 92.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−7.4 ptssince 2016
from 7.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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SWEA CITY VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Swea City, Iowa?

Swea City, Iowa has about 591 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Swea City, Iowa earns about $47,656 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Swea City, Iowa expensive?

In Swea City, Iowa, the median home is worth about $56,400, and the typical rent is about $661 a month.

How educated are people in Swea City, Iowa?

About 15.2% of adults age 25 and over in Swea City, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Swea City, Iowa?

About 27.0% of people in Swea City, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Swea City, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Swea City, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 29 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.

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

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