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COUNTY

Hardin County

Iowa · 16,455 residents (2025 est.) · 569.307 sq mi
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The short version

Hardin County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,069. Population has declined 12% since 2000. 22% 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 $122,500. With a median age of 45.4, 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 45.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% 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
16,639
−12%since 2000
from 18,812 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
29 / sq mi
−5%since 2009
from 31 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.4
+12%since 2000
from 40.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,455 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K17K18K19K19K1990201020202024Hardin County
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.5%(755)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(787)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.9%(990)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.4%(1,058)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.9%(820)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.1%(1,686)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.9%(2,149)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.7%(1,955)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(2,471)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.5%(2,250)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.9%(1,146)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.4%(572)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,069
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,429 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,477
+108%since 2000
from $17,537 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.7%
+22.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.424
+1%since 2010
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction11.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade10.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$122,500
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$795
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $403 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 74.6% in 2000
26.4% rent
Vacancy rate
12.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
14.5%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
35.3%
+11.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.9
−2%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
17
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hardin County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.1%(18,081)
Black0.6%(111)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(455)
Asian0.3%(59)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.1%(14,984)
Black1.1%(180)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(911)
Asian0.8%(141)
Other2.5%(423)
Diversity Score
23
+79%since 2009
from 13 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
19
−17%since 2020
from 23 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

Hispanic origin
Mexican4%(670)
Guatemalan0.4%(72)
Puerto Rican0.4%(69)
Colombian0.3%(55)
Cuban0.1%(14)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(54)
Vietnamese0.3%(54)
Chinese0.1%(14)
Korean0.1%(14)
Hmong0%(2)
Uzbek0%(2)
Ancestry
German39.8%(6,615)
Irish9.1%(1,515)
English9%(1,493)
Norwegian7.7%(1,287)
American5.6%(927)
Scottish2.6%(426)
Dutch2.5%(416)
French1.7%(278)
Swedish1.5%(253)
Danish1%(159)
Polish0.7%(124)
Italian0.7%(120)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.5%(86)
Arab0.5%(79)
Czech0.3%(58)
Russian0.3%(56)
Iraqi0.3%(54)
Canadian0.3%(49)
Greek0.3%(48)
Welsh0.3%(47)
Hungarian0.3%(43)
Swiss0.2%(26)
Lebanese0.1%(20)
Serbian0.1%(18)
Austrian0.1%(15)
British0.1%(14)
Finnish0.1%(12)
Portuguese0.1%(12)
Belgian0.1%(9)
Slovak0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.9%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.0%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 85.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.6 min
+59%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.0%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.2%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.9%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 63.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.0%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
31.8%
−29.9 ptssince 2009
from 61.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Foreign born
3.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.4%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.1%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 12.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−86.5 ptssince 2013
from 91.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.4%
+16.2 ptssince 2017
from 69.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 96.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.8%
+1.5 ptssince 2016
from 2.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.9%(2,264)
Married52.7%(3,740)
Widowed3.3%(232)
Divorced12.1%(858)
Women 15+
Never married21.4%(1,500)
Married55.4%(3,888)
Widowed11.5%(805)
Divorced11.7%(820)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Hardin County to nearby counties

HARDIN COUNTY VS
Grundy County
Income$87,205+34%
Home value$198,800+62%
Population12,361−25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARDIN COUNTY VS
Hamilton County
Income$72,432+11%
Home value$156,400+28%
Population14,944−9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARDIN COUNTY VS
Franklin County
Income$59,894−8%
Home value$124,100+1%
Population9,868−40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARDIN COUNTY VS
Story County
Income$69,685+7%
Home value$258,700+111%
Population101,291+516%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hardin County, Iowa?

Hardin County, Iowa has about 16,639 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Hardin County, Iowa earns about $65,069 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hardin County, Iowa expensive?

In Hardin County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $122,500, and the typical rent is about $795 a month.

How educated are people in Hardin County, Iowa?

About 21.9% of adults age 25 and over in Hardin County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Hardin County, Iowa?

About 9.7% of people in Hardin County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hardin County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Hardin County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,455 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 4803Census Tract 4804Census Tract 4805Census Tract 4806Census Tract 4801Census Tract 4802
10 ZIP codes
ZIP 50126ZIP 50627ZIP 50006ZIP 50122ZIP 50230ZIP 50258ZIP 50672ZIP 50206ZIP 50269ZIP 50102
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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