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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Fort Madison Micro

Fort Madison, IA · 1 counties · 32,306 residents (2025 est.) · 517.55 sq mi
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The short version

Fort Madison has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $62,382. Population has declined 14% since 2000. 22% 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 $141,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
32,893
−14%since 2000
from 38,052 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
64 / sq mi
−14%since 2000
from 74 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
43.6
+10%since 2000
from 39.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:32,306 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
32K34K36K38K39K1990201020202024Fort Madison
202433K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$62,382
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,193 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,999
+90%since 2000
from $18,430 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.5%
+20.2 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.1%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.447
+8%since 2010
from 0.412 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade18.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction3.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$141,400
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $61,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$835
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $398 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 75.5% in 2000
23.7% rent
Vacancy rate
9.3%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 38.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+34%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
54
RELATED:See current rent listings in Fort Madison on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93%(35,401)
Black2.8%(1,050)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(902)
Asian0.4%(150)
Other0%
Diversity Score13.4%(5,117)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.3%(29,696)
Black2.4%(786)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(1,145)
Asian0.6%(185)
Other3.3%(1,081)
Diversity Score22.8%(7,485)
Segregation Score21%(6,898)
Diversity Score
23
+69%since 2000
from 13 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
21
−38%since 2020
from 34 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.7%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.5%
+8.9 ptssince 2000
from 83.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.5%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.4 min
+76%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 82.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.1%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−4.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.8%
−4.3 ptssince 2011
from 62.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.3%
−22.6 ptssince 2009
from 58.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.8%
−40.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2012
from 14.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.4%
−83.0 ptssince 2013
from 88.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.6%
+15.9 ptssince 2017
from 70.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 97.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Fort MadisonCENTRAL9,935
What's inside

1 component county

Lee CountyCENTRAL32,306
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Fort Madison

Cambridge
Pop 33,628
Canton
Pop 32,901
Kingsville
Pop 30,315
Madison
Pop 33,279
Places similar to Fort Madison
Head to head

Compare Fort Madison side by side

FORT MADISON VS
Cambridge
Income$61,839−1%
Home value$262,400+86%
Population33,628+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT MADISON VS
Canton
Income$60,599−3%
Home value$107,200−24%
Population32,901+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT MADISON VS
Kingsville
Income$61,292−2%
Home value$161,300+14%
Population30,315−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
FORT MADISON VS
Madison
Income$64,577+4%
Home value$194,600+38%
Population33,279+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Fort Madison, IA?

Fort Madison, IA has about 32,893 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Fort Madison, IA?

The typical household in Fort Madison, IA earns about $62,382 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Fort Madison, IA expensive?

In Fort Madison, IA, the median home is worth about $141,400, and the typical rent is about $835 a month.

How educated are people in Fort Madison, IA?

About 21.7% of adults age 25 and over in Fort Madison, IA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Fort Madison, IA?

About 13.1% of people in Fort Madison, IA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Fort Madison, IA grown since 1990?

Yes, Fort Madison, IA has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 5,794 residents, a change of about -15 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →