CensusEasy
CITY

What Cheer

Iowa · 593 residents (2025 est.) · 1.237 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

What Cheer has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $48,182. Population has declined 14% since 2000. 14% 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 $49,200. With a median age of 44.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 36% less than the Iowa median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% 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
580
−14%since 2000
from 678 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
469 / sq mi
−14%since 2000
from 548 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.0
+1%since 2000
from 43.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:593 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5606206817428021990201020202024What Cheer
2024580
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,182
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,292 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,993
+56%since 2000
from $16,613 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
32.1%
+26.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.2%
+10.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.362
−6%since 2010
from 0.386 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Information15.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade10.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction6.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing4.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$49,200
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$744
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $325 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.5%
−13.5 ptssince 2000
from 86.0% in 2000
27.5% rent
Vacancy rate
24.3%
+14.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
16.7%
−17.4 ptssince 2009
from 34.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.0
+17%since 2000
from 0.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
58
RELATED:See current rent listings in What Cheer on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(665)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(3)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.1%(8)
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(536)
Black0.9%(5)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(21)
Asian0%(0)
Other3.1%(18)
Diversity Score18%(104)
Diversity Score
18
+1506%since 2000
from 1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.5%
+7.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.3%
+18.6 ptssince 2000
from 73.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
2.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 1.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.8 min
+14%since 2000
from 26.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.9%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 74.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.6%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 8.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.4%
+6.2 ptssince 2011
from 54.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.6%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.7%
−17.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.3%
+6.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.5% in 2009
Female
46.7%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−36.8 ptssince 2009
from 42.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2012
from 25.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−85.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.0%
+21.0 ptssince 2017
from 58.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2016
from 99.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to What Cheer

Jay
Pop 594
Bradley Junction
Pop 631
Reddick
Pop 535
Beverly Beach
Pop 521
Places similar to What Cheer
Head to head

Compare What Cheer to nearby cities

WHAT CHEER VS
Oskaloosa
Income$64,004+33%
Home value$153,300+212%
Population11,493+1838%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WHAT CHEER VS
Ottumwa
Income$61,103+27%
Home value$106,300+116%
Population25,319+4170%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WHAT CHEER VS
Pella
Income$84,111+75%
Home value$292,700+495%
Population10,992+1754%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WHAT CHEER VS
Grinnell
Income$65,320+36%
Home value$209,500+326%
Population9,430+1490%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in What Cheer, Iowa?

What Cheer, Iowa has about 580 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in What Cheer, Iowa?

The typical household in What Cheer, Iowa earns about $48,182 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is What Cheer, Iowa expensive?

In What Cheer, Iowa, the median home is worth about $49,200, and the typical rent is about $744 a month.

How educated are people in What Cheer, Iowa?

About 14.5% of adults age 25 and over in What Cheer, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in What Cheer, Iowa?

About 21.2% of people in What Cheer, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has What Cheer, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, What Cheer, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 202 residents, a change of about -26 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

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

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

How we source and harmonize this data →