United States › Iowa › Tama County COUNTY
Tama County Iowa · 16,796 residents (2025 est.) · 721 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 16,868 people, Tama County is a county in Iowa. That puts it in the top 10% of US counties for household income. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $148,600. 76% of homes are owner-occupied. There are 23 people per square mile.
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 from 18,103 in 2000
16,796 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 24 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 39.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 17K 17K 18K 18K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Tama County Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $70,781
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,419 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,097 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 10.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.403 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.4%
Public administration 5.4%
Transportation & warehousing 3.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
Education & health services 0.3%
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$148,600
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$872
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $418 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 77.5% in 2000
24.0% rent
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.37 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 32.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 89.2%(16,140)
Hispanic / Latino 3.8%(679)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 78.4%(13,220)
Hispanic / Latino 11.7%(1,968)
from 31 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
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 Ancestry
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 84.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 77.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 64.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 81.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 10.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 71.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 88.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.8% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 90.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 6.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 31.4%(2,156)
Women 15+
Never married 24.2%(1,629)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 10.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 55.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 20.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 21.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 70.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 40.1% 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) 14.7%(150)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.5%(178)
Share of the 1,018 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Tama County Head to head
Compare Tama County to nearby counties TAMA COUNTY VS
Marshall County
Income $73,315 +4%
Home value $145,500 −2%
Population 39,890 +137%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAMA COUNTY VS
Benton County
Income $86,962 +23%
Home value $208,200 +40%
Population 26,004 +55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAMA COUNTY VS
Grundy County
Income $87,205 +23%
Home value $198,800 +34%
Population 12,361 −26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
TAMA COUNTY VS
Poweshiek County
Income $67,391 −5%
Home value $209,300 +41%
Population 18,368 +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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