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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Mason City Micro

Mason City, IA · 2 counties · 49,710 residents (2025 est.) · 968.423 sq mi
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The short version

Mason City has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $69,633. Population has declined 8% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $163,371. With a median age of 44.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
49,982
−8%since 2000
from 54,356 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
52 / sq mi
−8%since 2000
from 56 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
44.0
+11%since 2000
from 39.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:49,710 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
50K51K52K54K55K1990201020202024Mason City
202450K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$69,633
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,951 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$41,222
+119%since 2000
from $18,859 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.3%
+22.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.448
+5%since 2010
from 0.428 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information14.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance5.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade4.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction4.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing3.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$163,371
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,801 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$836
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $397 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
27.8% rent
Vacancy rate
13.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.3%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.5%
−6.9 ptssince 2009
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
+14%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
29
RELATED:See current rent listings in Mason City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.1%(51,670)
Black0.7%(379)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(1,415)
Asian0.6%(328)
Other0%
Diversity Score9.6%(5,202)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89%(44,476)
Black1.7%(872)
Hispanic / Latino5.3%(2,655)
Asian1.1%(532)
Other2.9%(1,447)
Diversity Score25.5%(12,752)
Segregation Score22.4%(11,209)
Diversity Score
26
+167%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
22
−2%since 2020
from 23 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
23.3%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.6%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 87.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.5 min
+51%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.8%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.9%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 69.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.2%
−28.7 ptssince 2009
from 61.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.1%
−40.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2012
from 13.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−86.8 ptssince 2013
from 91.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.6%
+16.2 ptssince 2017
from 72.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.4%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 96.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 2.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Mason CityCENTRAL26,853
What's inside

2 component counties

Cerro Gordo CountyCENTRAL42,372Worth County7,338
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Mason City

Burley
Pop 49,308
Ashland
Pop 52,523
Bemidji
Pop 47,055
Cornelia
Pop 50,416
Places similar to Mason City
Head to head

Compare Mason City side by side

MASON CITY VS
Burley
Income$70,619+1%
Home value$274,355+68%
Population49,308−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Ashland
Income$69,860same
Home value$186,800+14%
Population52,523+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Bemidji
Income$68,975−1%
Home value$237,500+45%
Population47,055−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Cornelia
Income$67,309−3%
Home value$238,300+46%
Population50,416+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Mason City, IA?

Mason City, IA has about 49,982 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Mason City, IA?

The typical household in Mason City, IA earns about $69,633 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Mason City, IA expensive?

In Mason City, IA, the median home is worth about $163,371, and the typical rent is about $836 a month.

How educated are people in Mason City, IA?

About 23.3% of adults age 25 and over in Mason City, IA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Mason City, IA?

About 10.2% of people in Mason City, IA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Mason City, IA grown since 1990?

Yes, Mason City, IA has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 4,742 residents, a change of about -9 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 →