CensusEasy
CITY

Tama

Iowa · 3,011 residents (2025 est.) · 2.971 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Tama has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,661. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% 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 $106,800. The poverty rate of 24.0% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% 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
3,051
+12%since 2000
from 2,731 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,027 / sq mi
+12%since 2000
from 919 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
36.2
−3%since 2000
from 37.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:3,011 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K3K3K3K3K1990201020202024Tama
20243K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,661
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,531 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,745
+72%since 2000
from $16,676 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
41.2%
+25.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.0%
+11.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.395
+11%since 2010
from 0.357 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade18.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Information10.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
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
$106,800
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$832
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $436 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.2%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 70.2% in 2000
25.8% rent
Vacancy rate
6.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
9.9%
−10.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.4%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 36.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
−8%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
35
RELATED:See current rent listings in Tama on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic84%(2,294)
Black0.3%(9)
Hispanic / Latino9.6%(263)
Asian0.4%(11)
Other0%
Diversity Score24.6%(673)
2024
White, non-Hispanic64.3%(1,963)
Black1.6%(50)
Hispanic / Latino27.5%(838)
Asian0.4%(13)
Other6.1%(187)
Diversity Score63.3%(1,932)
Diversity Score
63
+157%since 2000
from 25 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.2%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 1.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.2 min
+35%since 2000
from 15.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.6%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 75.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
20.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.8%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.3%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2011
from 4.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.5%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 66.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.1%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
18.3%
−40.1 ptssince 2009
from 58.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.7%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.0% in 2009
Female
46.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
Foreign born
12.9%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.8%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2012
from 13.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.4%
−77.0 ptssince 2013
from 87.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.0%
+10.6 ptssince 2017
from 74.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
73.3%
−8.1 ptssince 2016
from 81.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
23.1%
+6.4 ptssince 2016
from 16.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Tama

Eastpoint
Pop 3,163
Bridgeville
Pop 2,997
Hilliard
Pop 3,161
Bay Pines
Pop 2,519
Places similar to Tama
Head to head

Compare Tama to nearby cities

TAMA VS
Grinnell
Income$65,320−5%
Home value$209,500+96%
Population9,430+213%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAMA VS
Marshalltown
Income$69,068+1%
Home value$127,700+20%
Population27,536+815%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAMA VS
Newton
Income$57,771−16%
Home value$153,700+44%
Population15,741+423%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAMA VS
Waterloo
Income$57,480−16%
Home value$152,600+43%
Population66,919+2122%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Tama, Iowa?

Tama, Iowa has about 3,051 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Tama, Iowa?

The typical household in Tama, Iowa earns about $68,661 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Tama, Iowa expensive?

In Tama, Iowa, the median home is worth about $106,800, and the typical rent is about $832 a month.

How educated are people in Tama, Iowa?

About 16.2% of adults age 25 and over in Tama, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Tama, Iowa?

About 24.0% of people in Tama, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Tama, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Tama, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 354 residents, a change of about 13 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Iowa
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Tama with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →