United States › Iowa › Van Meter CITY
Van Meter Iowa · 1,978 residents (2025 est.) · 4.38 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Van Meter is a city of 1,628 people in Iowa. Since 2000 the city has more than doubled, up 762 people. That is roughly 80% ahead of the Iowa median. Owners hold 93% of the housing stock. That puts it in the top 3% of US cities for household income. The median household earns $135,139, about 64% above the national median.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 866 in 2000
1,978 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
372 / sq mi
+29%since 2009
from 289 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 34.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
672 933 1K 1K 2K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Van Meter Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $135,139
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,625 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $20,272 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 54.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.357 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Public administration 17.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.6%
Transportation & warehousing 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.6%
Education & health services 0.3%
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$264,000
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,063
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $455 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 77.3% in 2000
7.4% rent
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
3.28 people
+11%since 2009
from 2.95 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.8 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.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.5%(844)
Hispanic / Latino 1.4%(12)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 97.3%(1,584)
from 4 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data from 22.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 91.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 87.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 2.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 75.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 86.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 31.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 6.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 6.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 90.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 97.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 92.6% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 98.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 1.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 6.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 11.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 8.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 6.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 84.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 13.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 0%(0)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.9%(14)
Share of the 54 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 Van Meter, Iowa? Van Meter, Iowa has about 1,628 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Van Meter, Iowa? The typical household in Van Meter, Iowa earns about $135,139 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Van Meter, Iowa expensive? In Van Meter, Iowa, the median home is worth about $264,000, and the typical rent is about $1,063 a month.
How educated are people in Van Meter, Iowa? About 43.4% of adults age 25 and over in Van Meter, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Van Meter, Iowa? About 2.6% of people in Van Meter, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Van Meter, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Van Meter, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 869 residents, a change of about 114 percent over that period.
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