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COUNTY

Buchanan County

Iowa · 20,883 residents (2025 est.) · 571.079 sq mi
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The short version

Buchanan County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,236. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% 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 $176,000. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,694
−2%since 2000
from 21,093 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
36 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 37 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.3
+11%since 2000
from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:20,883 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
21K21K21K21K21K1990201020202024Buchanan County
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.4%(1,334)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(1,283)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.9%(1,627)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197%(1,457)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.1%(1,047)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.8%(2,235)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.6%(2,611)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.5%(2,380)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.8%(2,865)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.1%(2,295)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.5%(1,142)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(418)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,236
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,036 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,527
+98%since 2000
from $18,405 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.8%
+25.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.385
+2%since 2010
from 0.379 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction6%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration5.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$176,000
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$848
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $376 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
82.1%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 78.2% in 2000
17.9% rent
Vacancy rate
7.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.3%
+6.5 ptssince 2009
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+4%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
33
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Buchanan County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98%(20,667)
Black0.3%(54)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(131)
Asian0.4%(85)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic95%(19,649)
Black0.6%(124)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(400)
Asian0.2%(40)
Other2.3%(481)
Diversity Score
12
+91%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
8
−64%since 2020
from 23 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.4%(291)
Ecuadorian0.2%(40)
Chilean0.1%(22)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(32)
Thai0%(4)
Pacific Islander origin
Tongan0.1%(23)
Samoan0%(1)
Ancestry
German39.8%(8,241)
Irish15.3%(3,166)
English12.3%(2,553)
American5.6%(1,160)
Norwegian3.5%(722)
Scottish1.8%(378)
Dutch1.8%(374)
Italian1.6%(328)
French1.5%(309)
Danish1.2%(246)
Czech1.1%(232)
Swedish1%(208)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.7%(149)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(112)
Swiss0.4%(89)
Belgian0.2%(39)
Welsh0.2%(38)
Hungarian0.2%(34)
British0.1%(22)
Austrian0.1%(14)
Canadian0.1%(13)
Greek0%(9)
Arab0%(8)
Haitian0%(5)
Syrian0%(4)
Russian0%(4)
Slovene0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Norwegian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.4%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.1%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 84.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.5 min
+48%since 2000
from 15.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 75.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.4%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.8%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 5.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 69.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.1%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 59.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
49.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 11.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.7%
−82.3 ptssince 2013
from 89.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.1%
+13.0 ptssince 2017
from 74.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2016
from 94.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married27.5%(2,281)
Married58.6%(4,867)
Widowed3.4%(281)
Divorced10.5%(875)
Women 15+
Never married19.8%(1,616)
Married57.4%(4,678)
Widowed10.2%(834)
Divorced12.5%(1,018)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Buchanan County to nearby counties

BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Black Hawk County
Income$66,417−15%
Home value$188,900+7%
Population131,532+530%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Delaware County
Income$74,989−4%
Home value$177,900+1%
Population17,674−15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Fayette County
Income$60,165−23%
Home value$136,800−22%
Population19,047−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUCHANAN COUNTY VS
Benton County
Income$86,962+11%
Home value$208,200+18%
Population26,004+25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Buchanan County, Iowa?

Buchanan County, Iowa has about 20,694 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Buchanan County, Iowa?

The typical household in Buchanan County, Iowa earns about $78,236 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Buchanan County, Iowa expensive?

In Buchanan County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $176,000, and the typical rent is about $848 a month.

How educated are people in Buchanan County, Iowa?

About 22.4% of adults age 25 and over in Buchanan County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Buchanan County, Iowa?

About 8.6% of people in Buchanan County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Buchanan County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Buchanan County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 150 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9501
10 ZIP codes
ZIP 50644ZIP 50629ZIP 50641ZIP 50682ZIP 52210ZIP 52326ZIP 52329ZIP 50650ZIP 50607ZIP 50654
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Buchanan County, Iowa: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy