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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Palo Alto County

Iowa · 9,421 residents · 563.864 sq mi
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The short version

Palo Alto County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $42,800. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $74,500. With a median age of 43.9, 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 43.9
US median: 37.2
Less educated
16% 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
9,421
−7%since 2000
from 10,147 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
17 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 18 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
43.9
+8%since 2000
from 40.7 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
9K9K10K10K11K1990201020202024Palo Alto County
20249K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,800
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,409 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,071
+30%since 2000
from $17,733 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
23.3%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 20.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
10.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade13.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction10%
US avg: 1.4%
Information9.2%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade7.3%
US avg: 7.2%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.4%
US avg: 7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$74,500
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $55,900 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$388
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $337 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
38.6%
−35.5 ptssince 2000
from 74.1% in 2000
26.0% rent
Vacancy rate
14.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
19.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
30.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
1.7
+1%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Palo Alto County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(9,956)
Black0.1%(9)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(77)
Asian0.3%(31)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.9%(292)
2010
White, non-Hispanic96.7%(9,108)
Black0.5%(44)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(152)
Asian0.3%(31)
Other0.3%(29)
Diversity Score6.7%(631)
Diversity Score
7
+133%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2000
from 13.9% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
87.2%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 83.7% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
3.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.6 min
+54%since 2000
from 11.4 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
77.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 75.9% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
6.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
2.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
8.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
3.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
13.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
31.8%
−28.8 ptssince 2009
from 60.6% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
13.9%
−34.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Palo Alto County

Jasper County
Pop 9,032
Greenlee County
Pop 9,312
Cumberland County
Pop 10,208
Benton County
Pop 8,883
Places similar to Palo Alto County
Head to head

Compare Palo Alto County to nearby counties

PALO ALTO COUNTY VS
Emmet County
Income$63,730+49%
Home value$114,100+53%
Population9,107+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PALO ALTO COUNTY VS
Pocahontas County
Income$61,875+45%
Home value$98,100+32%
Population6,819−23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PALO ALTO COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$65,428+53%
Home value$178,600+140%
Population16,202+82%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PALO ALTO COUNTY VS
Kossuth County
Income$67,697+58%
Home value$148,300+99%
Population14,322+61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Palo Alto County, Iowa?

Palo Alto County, Iowa has about 9,421 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Palo Alto County, Iowa?

The typical household in Palo Alto County, Iowa earns about $42,800 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Palo Alto County, Iowa expensive?

In Palo Alto County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $74,500, and the typical rent is about $388 a month.

How educated are people in Palo Alto County, Iowa?

About 16.1% of adults age 25 and over in Palo Alto County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Palo Alto County, Iowa?

About 10.6% of people in Palo Alto County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Palo Alto County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Palo Alto County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,248 residents, a change of about -12 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9604
8 ZIP codes
ZIP 50536ZIP 51342ZIP 50597ZIP 51358ZIP 50562ZIP 50528ZIP 50515ZIP 50527
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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