United States › Iowa › Hamilton County COUNTY
Hamilton County Iowa · 14,944 residents (2025 est.) · 577 sq mi
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The short version
Hamilton County is a county of 14,886 people in Iowa. Few US counties rank higher on income. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 23% of adults. The typical home is worth $156,400, having more than doubled since 2000. Density works out to 26 people per square mile. Owners hold 73% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% 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 from 16,438 in 2000
14,944 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 27 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K 15K 16K 16K 17K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Hamilton County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $72,432
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $38,658 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $18,801 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 6.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.435 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 8.3%
Public administration 4.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
Education & health services 0.9%
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$156,400
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$877
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $422 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 72.8% in 2000
26.6% rent
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 36.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.9 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.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.1%(15,792)
Hispanic / Latino 1.4%(234)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 83.8%(12,471)
Hispanic / Latino 10.1%(1,510)
from 14 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 37 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 Ancestry
+ 18 more ancestry groups with data from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 87.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 80.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 65.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 78.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 29.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 8.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 71.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 90.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 92.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 4.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 26.9%(1,640)
Women 15+
Never married 22.7%(1,335)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 59.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 17.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 74.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 36.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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) 22.7%(190)
Gulf War (1990s) 25.4%(213)
Share of the 838 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 Hamilton County Head to head
Compare Hamilton County to nearby counties HAMILTON COUNTY VS
Wright County
Income $67,190 −7%
Home value $119,600 −24%
Population 12,801 −14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAMILTON COUNTY VS
Hardin County
Income $65,069 −10%
Home value $122,500 −22%
Population 16,455 +10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAMILTON COUNTY VS
Webster County
Income $68,975 −5%
Home value $153,800 −2%
Population 36,838 +147%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAMILTON COUNTY VS
Boone County
Income $83,531 +15%
Home value $212,400 +36%
Population 26,799 +79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Hamilton County, Iowa? Hamilton County, Iowa has about 14,886 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Hamilton County, Iowa? The typical household in Hamilton County, Iowa earns about $72,432 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Hamilton County, Iowa expensive? In Hamilton County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $156,400, and the typical rent is about $877 a month.
How educated are people in Hamilton County, Iowa? About 22.8% of adults age 25 and over in Hamilton County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Hamilton County, Iowa? About 7.4% of people in Hamilton County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Hamilton County, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Hamilton County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,185 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.
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