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COUNTY

Story County

Iowa · 101,291 residents (2025 est.) · 573 sq mi
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Part of the Ames metro area
The short version

With 100,466 people, Story County is a county in Iowa. The median age is 26.9, younger than the US median of 38.9. 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. People stay put here: 71% were in the same home a year ago. Growth has run 26% since 2000, or 20,485 more people. Owners hold 56% of the housing stock.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 26.9
US median: 38.9
More educated
55% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
100,466
+26%since 2000
from 79,981 in 2000
101,291 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
175 / sq mi
+19%since 2009
from 148 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
26.9
+2%since 2000
from 26.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
573 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
72K79K87K95K103K19902000201020202024Story County
2024100K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.2%(4,204)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(4,691)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.5%(4,491)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1913.5%(13,577)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2420.3%(20,351)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.8%(12,810)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.1%(10,168)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 548.1%(8,153)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 648.7%(8,746)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.8%(7,883)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843.7%(3,716)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(1,676)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,685
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,442 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$38,610
+94%since 2000
from $19,949 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.9%
+17.5 ptssince 2009
from 29.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
+4%since 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$258,700
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $110,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,018
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $575 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
55.5%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 58.3% in 2000
44.5% rent
Vacancy rate
7.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.26 people
−6%since 2009
from 2.41 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
16.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
46.7%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+11%since 2009
from 3.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
48
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic90.3%(72,221)
Black1.8%(1,441)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(1,238)
Asian5.1%(4,076)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic81%(81,361)
Black2.7%(2,711)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(5,184)
Asian6.6%(6,641)
Other4.5%(4,569)
Diversity Score
42
+62%since 2009
from 26 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
25
−26%since 2020
from 34 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
Mexican2.8%(2,855)
Puerto Rican0.4%(396)
Guatemalan0.3%(330)
Venezuelan0.2%(174)
Cuban0.2%(168)
Spaniard0.1%(122)
Salvadoran0.1%(98)
Argentine0.1%(80)
Colombian0%(46)
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Chinese1.9%(1,863)
Asian Indian1.4%(1,358)
Korean1.1%(1,059)
Filipino0.3%(349)
Vietnamese0.3%(345)
Bangladeshi0.3%(314)
Indonesian0.1%(102)
Nepalese0.1%(96)
Pakistani0.1%(92)
Sri Lankan0.1%(84)
Japanese0.1%(77)
Mongolian0.1%(60)
+ 5 more asian origin groups with data
Laotian0.1%(55)
Thai0%(48)
Taiwanese0%(24)
Cambodian0%(22)
Hmong0%(12)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(27)
Samoan0%(22)
Tongan0%(9)
Ancestry
German28.6%(28,749)
Irish10.7%(10,771)
English10.3%(10,350)
Norwegian7.7%(7,703)
American2.9%(2,888)
Swedish2.5%(2,541)
Italian2.3%(2,360)
Dutch2.3%(2,275)
Polish1.7%(1,698)
Danish1.6%(1,625)
Scottish1.6%(1,595)
French1.3%(1,327)
+ 42 more ancestry groups with data
Czech1.2%(1,207)
British0.7%(711)
Welsh0.7%(659)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(622)
Swiss0.5%(482)
Arab0.4%(435)
Russian0.3%(324)
Belgian0.3%(323)
Iranian0.3%(318)
Brazilian0.3%(317)
Canadian0.2%(238)
Greek0.2%(199)
Austrian0.2%(156)
Lebanese0.2%(155)
Nigerian0.1%(133)
Romanian0.1%(125)
Hungarian0.1%(117)
Somali0.1%(98)
Finnish0.1%(96)
Ghanaian0.1%(85)
Croatian0.1%(81)
Turkish0.1%(81)
Lithuanian0.1%(72)
Ukrainian0.1%(71)
Jordanian0.1%(64)
Armenian0%(44)
Latvian0%(44)
Ethiopian0%(39)
Slovene0%(38)
Bulgarian0%(32)
Guyanese0%(31)
Slovak0%(26)
Serbian0%(19)
Jamaican0%(19)
Barbadian0%(13)
Egyptian0%(10)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
54.8%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 44.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.4%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 93.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
23.5%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.8 min
+55%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.3%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 72.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.9%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.8%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
7.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.8%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 69.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
78.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 79.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
17.7%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.8%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 41.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Female
47.7%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Foreign born
8.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
9.6%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 6.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2013
from 5.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
80.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2017
from 81.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
97.7%
+2.6 ptssince 2020
from 95.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
71.4%
+1.7 ptssince 2020
from 69.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
88.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 89.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 2.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married56.6%(25,901)
Married36.3%(16,605)
Widowed2.3%(1,059)
Divorced4.8%(2,178)
Women 15+
Never married46.6%(19,247)
Married39.8%(16,463)
Widowed5%(2,059)
Divorced8.6%(3,568)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
4.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2013
from 5.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
70.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2020
from 71.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
17.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 16.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
13.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 12.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
10.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 9.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
84.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 84.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
23.0%
+2.0 ptssince 2020
from 21.0% 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)27.5%(919)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15.5%(516)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34.2%(1,140)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.8%(159)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.1%(71)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 3,337 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Story County

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Pop 101,835
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Pop 105,525
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Pop 97,539
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Places similar to Story County
Head to head

Compare Story County to nearby counties

STORY COUNTY VS
Boone County
Income$83,531+20%
Home value$212,400−18%
Population26,799−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORY COUNTY VS
Marshall County
Income$73,315+5%
Home value$145,500−44%
Population39,890−61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORY COUNTY VS
Polk County
Income$83,576+20%
Home value$262,100+1%
Population516,546+410%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORY COUNTY VS
Hardin County
Income$65,069−7%
Home value$122,500−53%
Population16,455−84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Story County, Iowa?

Story County, Iowa has about 100,466 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Story County, Iowa earns about $69,685 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Story County, Iowa expensive?

In Story County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $258,700, and the typical rent is about $1,018 a month.

How educated are people in Story County, Iowa?

About 54.8% of adults age 25 and over in Story County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Story County, Iowa?

About 18.2% of people in Story County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Story County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Story County, Iowa has grown since 1990. The population has added about 26,214 residents, a change of about 35 percent over that period.

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

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