COUNTY
Wapello County
Iowa · 35,210 residents (2025 est.) · 431.843 sq mi
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Part of the Ottumwa micropolitan area
The short version
Wapello County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $64,766. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 20% 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 $125,100.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth
PEP 2025 EST:35,210 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)
Population, 1990 – 2024
202435K
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56%(2,117)
5 to 95.8%(2,039)
10 to 147.5%(2,664)
15 to 197.2%(2,548)
20 to 245.6%(1,985)
25 to 3412.8%(4,544)
35 to 4411.5%(4,069)
45 to 5412.2%(4,301)
55 to 6413%(4,599)
65 to 7411.1%(3,910)
75 to 844.4%(1,562)
85 and over2.9%(1,024)
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy
$64,766
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,188 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Households earning $100K+
41.8%
+22.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade25.7%
Information14.2%
Finance & insurance6.1%
Wholesale trade5.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.7%
Other services3.8%
Public administration3.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.3%
Construction3%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
Education & health services0.4%
Manufacturing0.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03
Housing
$125,100
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
1.9
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
52
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wapello County on RentDataNow
Section 04
Race & ethnicity
2000
White, non-Hispanic95.3%(34,339)
Black0.9%(329)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(799)
Asian0.6%(233)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.6%(26,750)
Black3%(1,054)
Hispanic / Latino13.4%(4,748)
Asian1.6%(579)
Other6.3%(2,231)
51
+120%since 2009
from 23 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
34
−4%since 2020
from 35 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
Mexican7.4%(2,603)
Central American4.4%(1,541)
Guatemalan2.3%(797)
Salvadoran1.8%(625)
Cuban0.7%(235)
Puerto Rican0.3%(89)
Nicaraguan0.2%(62)
Honduran0.1%(36)
Dominican0.1%(30)
Spaniard0%(17)
South American0%(8)
Colombian0%(4)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Ecuadorian0%(4)
Asian origin
Filipino1%(350)
Laotian0.5%(186)
Chinese0.2%(55)
Asian Indian0.1%(26)
Burmese0%(9)
Japanese0%(8)
Ancestry
German17.6%(6,240)
English12.5%(4,418)
Irish9.9%(3,505)
American6.4%(2,249)
Dutch3.4%(1,219)
Swedish2.5%(880)
Subsaharan African1.9%(673)
Italian1.7%(586)
French1.5%(541)
Scottish1.4%(501)
Norwegian0.8%(286)
Welsh0.6%(228)
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish0.6%(198)
Ethiopian0.5%(176)
Greek0.4%(151)
British0.4%(148)
Danish0.4%(142)
Belgian0.3%(121)
Czech0.3%(103)
Polish0.2%(86)
Slovak0.2%(55)
Nigerian0.2%(55)
Arab0.1%(42)
French Canadian0.1%(37)
Moroccan0.1%(32)
West Indian0.1%(31)
Hungarian0.1%(28)
Swiss0.1%(28)
Haitian0.1%(23)
Russian0.1%(20)
Ghanaian0%(17)
Ukrainian0%(13)
Croatian0%(12)
Finnish0%(10)
Brazilian0%(8)
Australian0%(7)
Canadian0%(4)
Bulgarian0%(3)
Section 05
Education
High school or higher
88.6%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 81.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Section 06
Commute & transportation
Section 07
Work & employment
Section 08
People & community
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married37.9%(5,447)
Married49.1%(7,065)
Widowed4.3%(619)
Divorced8.7%(1,258)
Women 15+
Never married26.9%(3,809)
Married50.7%(7,175)
Widowed9.9%(1,396)
Divorced12.5%(1,773)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Wapello County to nearby counties
WAPELLO COUNTY VS
Davis County
Income$77,194+19%
Home value$161,900+29%
Population9,230−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAPELLO COUNTY VS
Jefferson County
Income$61,620−5%
Home value$163,400+31%
Population15,291−57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAPELLO COUNTY VS
Mahaska County
Income$70,940+10%
Home value$157,800+26%
Population21,880−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAPELLO COUNTY VS
Monroe County
Income$70,996+10%
Home value$156,300+25%
Population7,406−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Wapello County, Iowa?
Wapello County, Iowa has about 35,362 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Wapello County, Iowa?
The typical household in Wapello County, Iowa earns about $64,766 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Wapello County, Iowa expensive?
In Wapello County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $125,100, and the typical rent is about $920 a month.
How educated are people in Wapello County, Iowa?
About 19.6% of adults age 25 and over in Wapello County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Wapello County, Iowa?
About 15.8% of people in Wapello County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.
Has Wapello County, Iowa grown since 1990?
Yes, Wapello County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 325 residents, a change of about -1 percent over that period.
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024