CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2010 ACS

O'Brien County

Iowa · 14,398 residents · 573.035 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

O'Brien County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $44,018. Population has declined 5% since 2000. Median home value is $83,000. With a median age of 43.6, the population is older than the US median of 37.2.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 43.6
US median: 37.2
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,398
−5%since 2000
from 15,102 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
25 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 26 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
43.6
+7%since 2000
from 40.7 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K14K15K15K16K1990201020202024O'Brien County
202414K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,018
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,758 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,771
+43%since 2000
from $17,281 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
24.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
11.0%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.445
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade16.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Information12.6%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 7.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction5.9%
US avg: 1.4%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 7%
Transportation & warehousing5%
US avg: 3.1%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$83,000
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$515
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $373 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
39.9%
−37.0 ptssince 2000
from 76.9% in 2000
24.3% rent
Vacancy rate
9.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
13.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.9%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 42.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
1.9
+14%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in O'Brien County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.8%(14,623)
Black0.3%(46)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(267)
Asian0.5%(75)
Other0%
Diversity Score6.3%(957)
2010
White, non-Hispanic94.5%(13,605)
Black0.4%(56)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(545)
Asian0.6%(82)
Other1.4%(197)
Diversity Score14.5%(2,090)
Diversity Score
15
+129%since 2000
from 6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.3%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 14.7% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
88.8%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 80.7% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.5 min
+32%since 2000
from 12.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
72.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 73.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
13.3%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
5.7%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
5.3%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
1.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
29.0%
−33.6 ptssince 2009
from 62.6% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.9%
−37.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to O'Brien County

Boundary County
Pop 13,997
Fremont County
Pop 14,208
Cass County
Pop 12,463
De Witt County
Pop 15,118
Places similar to O'Brien County
Head to head

Compare O'Brien County to nearby counties

O'BRIEN COUNTY VS
Osceola County
Income$69,239+57%
Home value$122,600+48%
Population5,980−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
O'BRIEN COUNTY VS
Cherokee County
Income$71,269+62%
Home value$158,700+91%
Population11,369−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
O'BRIEN COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$65,428+49%
Home value$178,600+115%
Population16,202+14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
O'BRIEN COUNTY VS
Sioux County
Income$86,098+96%
Home value$250,100+201%
Population36,774+159%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in O'Brien County, Iowa?

O'Brien County, Iowa has about 14,398 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in O'Brien County, Iowa?

The typical household in O'Brien County, Iowa earns about $44,018 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is O'Brien County, Iowa expensive?

In O'Brien County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $83,000, and the typical rent is about $515 a month.

How educated are people in O'Brien County, Iowa?

About 19.3% of adults age 25 and over in O'Brien County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in O'Brien County, Iowa?

About 11.0% of people in O'Brien County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has O'Brien County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, O'Brien County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,046 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 4903Census Tract 4902Census Tract 4901Census Tract 4904
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 51346ZIP 51248ZIP 51245ZIP 51046ZIP 51058ZIP 51022ZIP 51231ZIP 51009
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Iowa
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →