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COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Wapello County

Iowa · 35,687 residents · 431.843 sq mi
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The short version

Wapello County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $21,060. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $26,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 37.2
US median: 33.0
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
35,687
−1%vs 2000
vs 36,051 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
37.2
−5%vs 2000
vs 39.2 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
35K35K36K36K36K1990201020202024Wapello County
202435K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.5%(2,333)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 96.5%(2,312)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147%(2,513)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197%(2,508)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.6%(1,995)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.2%(5,067)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4414%(4,996)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410%(3,556)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6410.5%(3,732)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 749.8%(3,507)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 846.5%(2,335)
US avg: 4%
85 and over2.3%(833)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$21,060
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $32,188 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$11,055
−33%vs 2000
vs $16,500 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
15.3%
+2.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 13.2% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$26,600
−32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $51,600 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$276
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $419 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
75.6%
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 75.6% in 2000
24.4% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic98%(34,970)
Black0.8%(297)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(217)
Asian0.4%(150)
Other0.8%(270)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

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)
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data
Asian origin
Filipino1%(350)
Laotian0.5%(186)
Chinese0.2%(55)
Asian Indian0.1%(26)
Burmese0%(9)
Pacific Islander origin
Chuukese2%(705)
Marshallese0.4%(151)
Ancestry
German17.6%(6,240)
English12.5%(4,418)
Irish9.9%(3,505)
American6.4%(2,249)
Dutch3.4%(1,219)
Swedish2.5%(880)
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)
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)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.0%
−3.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 14.6% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
74.2%
−7.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 81.5% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
3.6%
−1.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.8 min
+32%vs 2000
vs 13.4 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
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
Drill deeper

Places similar to Wapello County

Jefferson County
Pop 36,147
Lawrence County
Pop 33,843
Christian County
Pop 33,443
Madison County
Pop 32,919
Places similar to Wapello County
Head to head

Compare Wapello County to nearby counties

WAPELLO COUNTY VS
Davis County
Income$77,194+267%
Home value$161,900+509%
Population9,230−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAPELLO COUNTY VS
Jefferson County
Income$61,620+193%
Home value$163,400+514%
Population15,291−57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAPELLO COUNTY VS
Mahaska County
Income$70,940+237%
Home value$157,800+493%
Population21,880−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAPELLO COUNTY VS
Monroe County
Income$70,996+237%
Home value$156,300+488%
Population7,406−79%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wapello County, Iowa?

Wapello County, Iowa has about 35,687 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Wapello County, Iowa?

The typical household in Wapello County, Iowa earns about $21,060 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 $26,600, and the typical rent is about $276 a month.

How educated are people in Wapello County, Iowa?

About 11.0% 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 15.3% of people in Wapello County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

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7 ZIP codes
ZIP 52501ZIP 52553ZIP 52554ZIP 52530ZIP 52536ZIP 52566ZIP 52548
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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