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COUNTY

Tama County

Iowa · 16,796 residents (2025 est.) · 721.011 sq mi
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The short version

Tama County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,781. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $148,600. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% 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

Total population
16,868
−7%since 2000
from 18,103 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
23 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 24 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.5
+6%since 2000
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,796 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
17K17K17K18K18K1990201020202024Tama County
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.7%(956)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(1,148)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147%(1,183)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.4%(1,085)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.6%(943)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.8%(1,828)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.1%(1,878)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.2%(1,885)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.4%(2,425)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.3%(2,081)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.4%(907)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(549)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,781
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,419 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,186
+100%since 2000
from $17,097 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
45.7%
+24.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.8%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.397
−2%since 2010
from 0.403 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration5.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.3%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$148,600
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$872
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $418 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.0%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 77.5% in 2000
24.0% rent
Vacancy rate
11.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.7%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 32.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
−2%since 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
35
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Tama County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic89.2%(16,140)
Black0.2%(44)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(679)
Asian0.2%(32)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.4%(13,220)
Black0.9%(154)
Hispanic / Latino11.7%(1,968)
Asian0.7%(116)
Other8.4%(1,410)
Diversity Score
46
+48%since 2009
from 31 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
37
−14%since 2020
from 43 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
Mexican8.9%(1,500)
Guatemalan1.4%(234)
Cuban0.6%(96)
Puerto Rican0.5%(76)
Asian origin
Chinese0.3%(49)
Filipino0.2%(40)
Korean0.1%(14)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German29.1%(4,916)
Irish10.3%(1,743)
English6.8%(1,148)
Czech6.1%(1,021)
American3.1%(526)
Norwegian2.5%(418)
Dutch1.4%(243)
French1.3%(218)
Danish1.1%(188)
Scottish1.1%(183)
Italian1%(164)
Polish0.9%(144)
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.6%(96)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(57)
Russian0.3%(53)
Welsh0.3%(47)
Belgian0.2%(38)
British0.2%(26)
Swiss0.1%(17)
Arab0%(4)
Haitian0%(4)
Serbian0%(2)
Slovak0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest Czech population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.5%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.5%
+7.3 ptssince 2000
from 84.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.7 min
+53%since 2000
from 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.9%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 77.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.2%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.9%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 64.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.1%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 58.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.4% in 2009
Female
49.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.6% in 2009
Foreign born
4.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.9%
−41.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2012
from 11.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.2%
−83.5 ptssince 2013
from 89.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.5%
+16.0 ptssince 2017
from 71.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 90.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
7.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2016
from 6.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married31.4%(2,156)
Married55.3%(3,791)
Widowed3.7%(256)
Divorced9.5%(653)
Women 15+
Never married24.2%(1,629)
Married56.4%(3,792)
Widowed9.8%(659)
Divorced9.6%(645)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Tama County to nearby counties

TAMA COUNTY VS
Marshall County
Income$73,315+4%
Home value$145,500−2%
Population39,890+137%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAMA COUNTY VS
Benton County
Income$86,962+23%
Home value$208,200+40%
Population26,004+55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAMA COUNTY VS
Grundy County
Income$87,205+23%
Home value$198,800+34%
Population12,361−26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAMA COUNTY VS
Poweshiek County
Income$67,391−5%
Home value$209,300+41%
Population18,368+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Tama County, Iowa?

Tama County, Iowa has about 16,868 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Tama County, Iowa earns about $70,781 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Tama County, Iowa expensive?

In Tama County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $148,600, and the typical rent is about $872 a month.

How educated are people in Tama County, Iowa?

About 20.5% of adults age 25 and over in Tama County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Tama County, Iowa?

About 14.8% of people in Tama County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Tama County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Tama County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 551 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 2905Census Tract 2901Census Tract 2904Census Tract 2903Census Tract 2902Census Tract 2906
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 52339ZIP 52342ZIP 50675ZIP 50635ZIP 50632ZIP 52215ZIP 50173ZIP 52217ZIP 52225ZIP 50612ZIP 50652ZIP 52348
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Tama County, Iowa: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy