United States › Iowa › Hardin County COUNTY
Hardin County Iowa · 16,455 residents (2025 est.) · 569 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Hardin County is home to 16,639 people in Iowa. The median age is 45.4, about 6 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 22% of adults. The typical home is worth $122,500, having more than doubled since 2000. The foreign-born share is 4%. There are 29 people per square mile.
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 from 18,812 in 2000
16,455 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 31 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 40.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K 17K 18K 19K 19K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Hardin County Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $65,069
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,429 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,537 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 11.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.9%
Public administration 3.6%
Transportation & warehousing 3.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Education & health services 0.6%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$122,500
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$795
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $403 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 74.6% in 2000
26.4% rent
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.20 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 23.7% 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%(18,081)
Hispanic / Latino 2.4%(455)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 90.1%(14,984)
Hispanic / Latino 5.5%(911)
from 13 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
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 Ancestry
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data from 17.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 85.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 74.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 63.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 77.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 31.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 12.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 8.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 69.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 82.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 96.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 31.9%(2,264)
Women 15+
Never married 21.4%(1,500)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 55.3% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 20.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 18.9% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 74.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 37.8% 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) 14.7%(126)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.9%(128)
Share of the 860 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 Hardin County Head to head
Compare Hardin County to nearby counties HARDIN COUNTY VS
Grundy County
Income $87,205 +34%
Home value $198,800 +62%
Population 12,361 −25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARDIN COUNTY VS
Hamilton County
Income $72,432 +11%
Home value $156,400 +28%
Population 14,944 −9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARDIN COUNTY VS
Franklin County
Income $59,894 −8%
Home value $124,100 +1%
Population 9,868 −40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARDIN COUNTY VS
Story County
Income $69,685 +7%
Home value $258,700 +111%
Population 101,291 +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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