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COUNTY

Cerro Gordo County

Iowa · 42,372 residents (2025 est.) · 568.3 sq mi
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The short version

Cerro Gordo County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $68,189. Population has declined 8% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $166,400. With a median age of 44.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.0
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
42,632
−8%since 2000
from 46,447 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
75 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 82 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.0
+12%since 2000
from 39.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:42,372 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
42K43K45K46K47K1990201020202024Cerro Gordo County
202443K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$68,189
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,867 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,560
+117%since 2000
from $19,184 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.4%
+21.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.6%
+2.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.456
+7%since 2010
from 0.426 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing3.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Construction3.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$166,400
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $76,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$850
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $404 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
70.4%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 71.5% in 2000
29.6% rent
Vacancy rate
14.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
31.4%
−6.7 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.4
+15%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
31
RELATED:See current rent listings in Cerro Gordo County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.7%(43,977)
Black0.8%(358)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(1,291)
Asian0.7%(317)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.4%(4,810)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.2%(37,619)
Black1.9%(813)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(2,397)
Asian1.2%(499)
Other3.1%(1,304)
Diversity Score27.1%(11,551)
Segregation Score20.9%(8,924)
Diversity Score
27
+162%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
21
−5%since 2020
from 22 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 20.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.8%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 87.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.6 min
+48%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.6%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.2%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 6.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.2%
−5.7 ptssince 2011
from 68.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.9%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.9%
−29.8 ptssince 2009
from 62.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.9%
−39.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 12.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.5%
−87.2 ptssince 2013
from 91.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.2%
+16.2 ptssince 2017
from 73.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 96.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 2.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Cerro Gordo County to nearby counties

CERRO GORDO COUNTY VS
Worth County
Income$78,008+14%
Home value$145,800−12%
Population7,338−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CERRO GORDO COUNTY VS
Franklin County
Income$59,894−12%
Home value$124,100−25%
Population9,868−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CERRO GORDO COUNTY VS
Floyd County
Income$68,557+1%
Home value$143,500−14%
Population14,901−65%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CERRO GORDO COUNTY VS
Hancock County
Income$70,601+4%
Home value$141,400−15%
Population10,528−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?

Cerro Gordo County, Iowa has about 42,632 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?

The typical household in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa earns about $68,189 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Cerro Gordo County, Iowa expensive?

In Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $166,400, and the typical rent is about $850 a month.

How educated are people in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?

About 24.0% of adults age 25 and over in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa?

About 10.6% of people in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Cerro Gordo County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,101 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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12 census tracts
Census Tract 9508Census Tract 9516Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9504.02Census Tract 9514Census Tract 9501.02Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9507Census Tract 9510Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9509
9 ZIP codes
ZIP 50401ZIP 50428ZIP 50469ZIP 50482ZIP 50464ZIP 50479ZIP 50477ZIP 50433ZIP 50467
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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