Cherokee County is home to 11,600 people in Iowa. Few US counties rank higher on income. The median age is 44.0, about 5 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 23% of adults. The typical home is worth $158,700, having more than doubled since 2000. Density works out to 20 people per square mile.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $71,269, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Cherokee County
What changed most since 1990
Population14,098 → 11,600(−18%)US over the same years: +35%
Median home value (2024 dollars)$74,882 → $158,700(+112%)US over the same years: +67%
White share98.7% → 88.6%(−10.1 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)17.4%(127)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)24.7%(180)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era26.2%(191)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.4%(25)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II3.3%(24)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 728 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Cherokee County, decade by decade
Cherokee County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
14,098
$55,122
$74,882
10.8%
3.2
2000
13,035
$64,017
$110,028
15.2%
5.4
2010
12,072
$64,211
$111,489
19.2%
10.4
2020
11,658
$68,240
$142,293
22.7%
20.0
2024
11,600
$71,269
$158,700
23.4%
26.2
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
