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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Van Buren County

Iowa · 7,203 residents · 484.792 sq mi
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The short version

Van Buren County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $49,898. Population has declined 8% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $91,200. With a median age of 44.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% 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
7,203
−8%since 2000
from 7,809 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
44.4
+9%since 2000
from 40.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K8K8K1990201020202024Van Buren County
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.2%(447)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(487)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.9%(500)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.1%(439)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(337)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 349.7%(700)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.2%(737)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411%(790)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.4%(1,111)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7413.4%(962)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847%(507)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.6%(186)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,898
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,094 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,466
+81%since 2000
from $15,748 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
28.9%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.1%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade19.3%
US avg: 10%
Information12.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction8.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade8.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.7%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.3%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$91,200
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$571
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $334 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
80.3%
+0.6 ptssince 2000
from 79.7% in 2000
19.7% rent
Afford Score
1.8
+17%since 2009
from 1.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Van Buren County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(7,659)
Black0.1%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(60)
Asian0.3%(20)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic95.5%(6,878)
Black0.4%(26)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(114)
Asian0.3%(24)
Other1.5%(111)
Segregation Score
5
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
Mexican1%(73)
Spaniard0.2%(15)
Asian origin
Filipino0.3%(23)
Asian Indian0.2%(11)
Ancestry
German29.5%(2,093)
Irish13.1%(929)
English8.3%(587)
American6.5%(465)
Dutch3%(210)
Scottish2.2%(158)
Swedish2.2%(156)
French2%(141)
Swiss1.8%(131)
Polish1.3%(91)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(91)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.8%(54)
Italian0.5%(37)
Welsh0.5%(35)
Russian0.4%(31)
Czech0.4%(27)
Hungarian0.2%(11)
British0.1%(5)
Serbian0.1%(5)
Danish0%(3)
Greek0%(3)
Belgian0%(2)
Finnish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.3%
+6.6 ptssince 2000
from 82.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.4 min
+41%since 2000
from 16.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
71.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 72.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.7%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 9.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
58.0%
−7.7 ptssince 2011
from 65.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.7%
−29.0 ptssince 2009
from 60.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Female
48.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
11.3%
−70.9 ptssince 2013
from 82.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married25.7%(764)
Married58%(1,722)
Widowed4%(119)
Divorced12.3%(366)
Women 15+
Never married21%(602)
Married56.1%(1,604)
Widowed11.8%(338)
Divorced11.1%(317)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Van Buren County to nearby counties

VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Jefferson County
Income$61,620+23%
Home value$163,400+79%
Population15,291+114%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Scotland County
Income$68,913+38%
Home value$158,800+74%
Population4,796−33%
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VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Davis County
Income$77,194+55%
Home value$161,900+78%
Population9,230+29%
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VAN BUREN COUNTY VS
Lee County
Income$62,382+25%
Home value$141,400+55%
Population32,306+353%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Van Buren County, Iowa?

Van Buren County, Iowa has about 7,203 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Van Buren County, Iowa?

The typical household in Van Buren County, Iowa earns about $49,898 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 $91,200, and the typical rent is about $571 a month.

How educated are people in Van Buren County, Iowa?

About 16.4% 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 13.1% 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 473 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9502
9 ZIP codes
ZIP 52565ZIP 52570ZIP 52620ZIP 52551ZIP 52535ZIP 52542ZIP 52651ZIP 52573ZIP 52588
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →