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COUNTY

Emmet County

Iowa · 9,107 residents (2025 est.) · 395.89 sq mi
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The short version

Emmet County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,730. Population has fallen 16% since 2000, a loss of 1,765 residents. 17% 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 $114,100.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% 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
9,262
−16%since 2000
from 11,027 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
23 / sq mi
−16%since 2000
from 28 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.9
+8%since 2000
from 39.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:9,107 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9K10K10K11K12K1990201020202024Emmet County
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,730
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,305 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,351
+119%since 2000
from $16,619 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.8%
+21.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.409
−10%since 2010
from 0.455 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services2.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$114,100
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$733
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $322 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.4%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 75.1% in 2000
20.6% rent
Vacancy rate
10.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
33.3%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 37.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
+7%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
20
RELATED:See current rent listings in Emmet County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.5%(10,424)
Black0.2%(26)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(475)
Asian0.3%(33)
Other0%
Diversity Score11.6%(1,285)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.2%(7,893)
Black1.6%(147)
Hispanic / Latino10.2%(942)
Asian0.2%(21)
Other2.8%(259)
Diversity Score32.8%(3,038)
Segregation Score12.9%(1,196)
Diversity Score
33
+182%since 2000
from 12 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
13
−34%since 2020
from 19 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.1%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.1%
+7.9 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 3.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.9 min
+78%since 2000
from 11.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 4.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2011
from 65.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
9.9%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.4%
−33.3 ptssince 2009
from 60.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.1%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
48.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
3.4%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.2%
−45.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.4%
+8.3 ptssince 2012
from 10.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−82.3 ptssince 2013
from 88.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.9%
+16.1 ptssince 2017
from 70.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
91.8%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 91.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2016
from 7.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Emmet County to nearby counties

EMMET COUNTY VS
Palo Alto County
Income$72,781+14%
Home value$123,200+8%
Population8,899−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMMET COUNTY VS
Martin County
Income$59,507−7%
Home value$163,500+43%
Population19,440+113%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMMET COUNTY VS
Kossuth County
Income$67,697+6%
Home value$148,300+30%
Population14,322+57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EMMET COUNTY VS
Dickinson County
Income$75,432+18%
Home value$270,700+137%
Population18,077+98%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Emmet County, Iowa?

Emmet County, Iowa has about 9,262 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Emmet County, Iowa earns about $63,730 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Emmet County, Iowa expensive?

In Emmet County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $114,100, and the typical rent is about $733 a month.

How educated are people in Emmet County, Iowa?

About 17.1% of adults age 25 and over in Emmet County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Emmet County, Iowa?

About 9.9% of people in Emmet County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Emmet County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Emmet County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,307 residents, a change of about -20 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 703Census Tract 704Census Tract 702Census Tract 701
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 51334ZIP 50514ZIP 50578ZIP 51365ZIP 50531
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →