United States › Iowa › Buena Vista County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Buena Vista County Iowa · 20,823 residents · 575 sq mi
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The short version
Buena Vista County is a county of 20,823 people in Iowa. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. The average commute runs 14 minutes. The typical home is worth $120,300, having more than doubled since 2000. This skews young, with a median age of 35.7. Owners hold 71% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.4 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K 20K 20K 21K 21K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Buena Vista County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $54,014
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,300 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,042 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 6.6%
Public administration 3.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 3.1%
Transportation & warehousing 1.9%
Education & health services 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.4%
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$120,300
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $65,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$706
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $417 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 70.4% in 2000
29.3% rent
from 2.45 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.0 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 82.1%(16,758)
Hispanic / Latino 12.5%(2,560)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 54.6%(11,377)
Hispanic / Latino 28.5%(5,925)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 81.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 69.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 70.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 12.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 32.3%(2,623)
Women 15+
Never married 30.9%(2,537)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 12.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 9.6%(71)
Gulf War (1990s) 11.3%(84)
Share of the 743 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
Places similar to Buena Vista County Head to head
Compare Buena Vista County to nearby counties BUENA VISTA COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income $65,428 +21%
Home value $178,600 +48%
Population 16,202 −21%
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BUENA VISTA COUNTY VS
Pocahontas County
Income $61,875 +15%
Home value $98,100 −18%
Population 6,819 −67%
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BUENA VISTA COUNTY VS
Sac County
Income $73,838 +37%
Home value $141,400 +18%
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BUENA VISTA COUNTY VS
Cherokee County
Income $71,269 +32%
Home value $158,700 +32%
Population 11,369 −44%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Buena Vista County, Iowa? Buena Vista County, Iowa has about 20,823 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Buena Vista County, Iowa? The typical household in Buena Vista County, Iowa earns about $54,014 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Buena Vista County, Iowa expensive? In Buena Vista County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $120,300, and the typical rent is about $706 a month.
How educated are people in Buena Vista County, Iowa? About 20.8% of adults age 25 and over in Buena Vista County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Buena Vista County, Iowa? About 10.9% of people in Buena Vista County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Buena Vista County, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Buena Vista County, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 858 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.
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