COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Van Buren County

Iowa · 7,809 residents · 485 sq mi

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The short version

Van Buren County is a county of 7,809 people in Iowa. At a median age of 40.8, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. Owners hold 80% of the housing stock. Home values have more than doubled since 1990, reaching $49,100. Median rent is $334 a month.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $42,589

Older

median age 40.8

US median: 35.2

Less educated

12% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 24%

Less affordable

home values up 73%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $120,530

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

7,809

+2%since 1990

from 7,676 in 1990

1990 – 2025

Median age

40.8

+8%since 1990

from 37.7 in 1990

US average: 35.2

Land area

485 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

20247K

Age distribution, 2000

Under 55.6%(435)

US avg: 6.8%

5 to 96.9%(538)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 147.8%(606)

US avg: 7.3%

15 to 197%(543)

US avg: 7.2%

20 to 244.6%(359)

US avg: 6.7%

25 to 3410.3%(805)

US avg: 14.2%

35 to 4414.1%(1,099)

US avg: 16%

45 to 5413.8%(1,074)

US avg: 13.4%

55 to 6411%(859)

US avg: 8.6%

65 to 748.8%(690)

US avg: 6.5%

75 to 847.1%(556)

US avg: 4.4%

85 and over3.1%(245)

US avg: 1.5%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$31,094

+23%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $19,244 in 1990

US average: $42,589

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$15,748

+68%since 1990

from $9,348 in 1990

US average: $21,522

Poverty rate

12.7%

−4.1 ptssince 1990

from 16.8% in 1990

US average: 12.4%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$49,100

+73%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $21,500 in 1990

US average: $120,530

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$334

+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990

from $240 in 1990

US average: $602

Owner-occupied

79.7%

+2.0 ptssince 1990

from 77.7% in 1990

20.3% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990

White, non-Hispanic99.9%(7,665)

Black0%(2)

Hispanic / Latino0.2%(17)

Asian0%(1)

2000

White, non-Hispanic98.1%(7,659)

Black0.1%(5)

Hispanic / Latino0.8%(60)

Asian0.3%(20)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican0.7%(54)

Central American0%(3)

Nicaraguan0%(3)

Asian origin

Filipino0%(2)

Korean0%(1)

Pacific Islander origin

Samoan0%(1)

Ancestry

German33.2%(2,405)

English13.5%(977)

Irish11.1%(805)

American9.4%(678)

Dutch2.6%(186)

French2.4%(172)

Scottish2.1%(155)

Scotch-Irish1.7%(126)

Swedish1.2%(90)

Polish1.2%(84)

Swiss0.9%(66)

French Canadian0.9%(65)

+ 12 more ancestry groups with data

Italian0.9%(64)

Czech0.5%(33)

British0.4%(29)

Danish0.3%(25)

Belgian0.2%(18)

Norwegian0.1%(9)

Russian0.1%(6)

Welsh0.1%(6)

Hungarian0.1%(4)

Croatian0%(3)

Lithuanian0%(2)

Portuguese0%(2)

RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Dutch population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

11.8%

+2.2 ptssince 1990

from 9.6% in 1990

US average: 24.4%

High school or higher

82.7%

+8.0 ptssince 1990

from 74.7% in 1990

US average: 80.3%

Graduate degree

3.6%

+1.1 ptssince 1990

from 2.5% in 1990

US average: 8.8%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

16.6 min

−46%since 1990

from 30.8 min in 1990

US average: 17.6

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status

Men 15+

Never married23.3%(730)

Married62.3%(1,947)

Widowed3.5%(109)

Divorced10.9%(341)

Women 15+

Never married15.5%(481)

Married62.5%(1,943)

Widowed13.9%(432)

Divorced8.1%(253)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

17.4%

−0.4 ptssince 2013

from 17.8% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

35.8%

−6.1 ptssince 2020

from 41.9% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

22.2%

+2.2 ptssince 2020

from 20.0% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

25.5%

+0.9 ptssince 2020

from 24.6% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

20.6%

−2.8 ptssince 2020

from 23.4% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

4.2%

+0.7 ptssince 2020

from 3.5% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

56.5%

−4.4 ptssince 2020

from 60.9% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

43.1%

−1.8 ptssince 2020

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)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)23.9%(126)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era55.8%(294)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War0.8%(4)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0.8%(4)

US avg: 1%

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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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