United States › Iowa › Van Buren County COUNTY
Van Buren County Iowa · 7,131 residents (2025 est.) · 485 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 7,241 people, Van Buren County is a county in Iowa. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. Owners hold 82% of the housing stock. At a median age of 44.7, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $114,600. 1% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% 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 from 7,809 in 2000
7,131 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 16 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K 7K 7K 8K 8K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Van Buren County Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $61,161
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,094 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,748 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.409 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.9%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.6%
Public administration 4.1%
Transportation & warehousing 2.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Education & health services 0.3%
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$114,600
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$622
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $334 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 79.7% in 2000
18.4% rent
from 15.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.37 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 1.6 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 98.1%(7,659)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(60)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 94.4%(6,833)
Hispanic / Latino 1.8%(128)
from 6 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 5 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
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data from 11.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 82.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 72.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 65.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 65.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 29.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 13.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 17.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 61.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 81.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 94.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 41.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 20.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 24.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 23.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 60.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 44.9% 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) 12.3%(65)
Gulf War (1990s) 23.9%(126)
Share of the 527 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 Van Buren County Head to head
Compare Van Buren County to nearby counties VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Jefferson County
Income $61,620 +1%
Home value $163,400 +43%
Population 15,291 +114%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Scotland County
Income $68,913 +13%
Home value $158,800 +39%
Population 4,796 −33%
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VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Davis County
Income $77,194 +26%
Home value $161,900 +41%
Population 9,230 +29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Lee County
Income $62,382 +2%
Home value $141,400 +23%
Population 32,306 +353%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Van Buren County, Iowa? Van Buren County, Iowa has about 7,241 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Van Buren County, Iowa? The typical household in Van Buren County, Iowa earns about $61,161 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Van Buren County, Iowa expensive? In Van Buren County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $114,600, and the typical rent is about $622 a month.
How educated are people in Van Buren County, Iowa? About 18.8% of adults age 25 and over in Van Buren County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Van Buren County, Iowa? About 15.1% of people in Van Buren County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Van Buren County, Iowa grown since 1990? Yes, Van Buren County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 435 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.
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