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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Story County

Iowa · 98,537 residents · 572.544 sq mi
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The short version

Story County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $58,302. Population has grown 23% since 2000. 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $195,200. At a median age of 26.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, well above the US average, yet household income trails the national figure — a profile common to graduate-student tracts and academic hubs.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 26.9
US median: 38.8
More educated
52% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
98,537
+23%since 2000
from 79,981 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
172 / sq mi
+23%since 2000
from 140 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
26.9
+2%since 2000
from 26.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
72K79K87K95K103K1990201020202024Story County
2024100K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,302
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,442 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,037
+56%since 2000
from $19,949 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
38.5%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
20.0%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade9.4%
US avg: 10%
Information9%
US avg: 11.1%
Other services5.9%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$195,200
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $110,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$921
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $575 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
53.2%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 58.3% in 2000
46.8% rent
Afford Score
3.3
+22%since 2000
from 2.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Story County on RentDataNow
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%
Diversity Score20.1%(16,047)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic81.1%(79,944)
Black3%(2,980)
Hispanic / Latino5.1%(5,032)
Asian5.5%(5,444)
Other3%(2,987)
Diversity Score38%(37,475)
Segregation Score34%(33,483)
Diversity Score
38
+90%since 2000
from 20 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
34
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
51.9%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 44.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
96.8%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 93.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
22.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 19.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.2 min
+58%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
71.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 72.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.7%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 69.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
45.9%
−23.2 ptssince 2009
from 69.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
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
9.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.1%
−89.3 ptssince 2013
from 94.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Story County

DeKalb County
Pop 101,835
Kankakee County
Pop 105,525
Twin Falls County
Pop 97,539
Floyd County
Pop 101,378
Places similar to Story County
Head to head

Compare Story County to nearby counties

STORY COUNTY VS
Boone County
Income$83,531+43%
Home value$212,400+9%
Population26,799−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORY COUNTY VS
Marshall County
Income$73,315+26%
Home value$145,500−25%
Population39,890−61%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORY COUNTY VS
Polk County
Income$83,576+43%
Home value$262,100+34%
Population516,546+410%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
STORY COUNTY VS
Hardin County
Income$65,069+12%
Home value$122,500−37%
Population16,455−84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Story County, Iowa?

Story County, Iowa has about 98,537 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Story County, Iowa earns about $58,302 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 $195,200, and the typical rent is about $921 a month.

How educated are people in Story County, Iowa?

About 51.9% 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 20.0% 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 24,285 residents, a change of about 33 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

27 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 13.02Census Tract 13.04Census Tract 5Census Tract 106Census Tract 10Census Tract 6Census Tract 8Census Tract 13.03Census Tract 101.02Census Tract 11.02Census Tract 103Census Tract 102Census Tract 1.02Census Tract 101.01Census Tract 9Census Tract 2Census Tract 7Census Tract 11.01Census Tract 104Census Tract 1.05
15 ZIP codes
ZIP 50010ZIP 50014ZIP 50201ZIP 50124ZIP 50248ZIP 50013ZIP 50012ZIP 50236ZIP 50046ZIP 50105ZIP 50055ZIP 50056ZIP 50278ZIP 50134ZIP 50154
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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