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CITY

Iola

Kansas · 5,240 residents (2025 est.) · 4.465 sq mi
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The short version

Iola has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $54,221. Population has fallen 15% since 2000, a loss of 954 residents. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $78,300. At a median age of 32.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 27% less than the Kansas median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
24% 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
5,348
−15%since 2000
from 6,302 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,198 / sq mi
−15%since 2000
from 1,411 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.6
−9%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,240 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K6K6K6K6K1990201020202024Iola
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,221
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,219 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,378
+79%since 2000
from $14,741 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.8%
+19.6 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.6%
−10.0 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.393
−2%since 2010
from 0.401 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade14.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance1.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing1.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$78,300
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$767
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $364 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.9%
−4.7 ptssince 2000
from 65.6% in 2000
39.1% rent
Vacancy rate
16.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.6%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 40.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.4
+8%since 2000
from 1.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
32
RELATED:See current rent listings in Iola on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic92.9%(5,852)
Black2.8%(177)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(114)
Asian0.2%(14)
Other0%
Diversity Score11.9%(752)
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.1%(4,553)
Black6.4%(342)
Hispanic / Latino4.2%(224)
Asian0.4%(22)
Other3.9%(207)
Diversity Score33.5%(1,791)
Diversity Score
33
+181%since 2000
from 12 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.5%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.5%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.4 min
+49%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
6.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.4%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2011
from 7.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.0%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 65.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
25.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.8%
−22.8 ptssince 2009
from 58.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
4.3%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.8%
−38.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 14.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.7%
−72.7 ptssince 2013
from 82.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.6%
+16.5 ptssince 2017
from 68.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 99.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2016
from 0.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Iola, Kansas?

Iola, Kansas has about 5,348 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Iola, Kansas?

The typical household in Iola, Kansas earns about $54,221 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Iola, Kansas expensive?

In Iola, Kansas, the median home is worth about $78,300, and the typical rent is about $767 a month.

How educated are people in Iola, Kansas?

About 23.5% of adults age 25 and over in Iola, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Iola, Kansas?

About 8.6% of people in Iola, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Iola, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Iola, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,003 residents, a change of about -16 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 →