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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Mason City Micro

Mason City, IA · 2 counties · 51,749 residents · 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 $45,465. Population has declined 5% since 2000. Median home value is $106,035. With a median age of 43.4, the population is older than the US median of 37.2.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 43.4
US median: 37.2
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
51,749
−5%since 2000
from 54,356 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
53 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 56 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
43.4
+10%since 2000
from 39.5 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
50K51K52K54K55K1990201020202024Mason City
202450K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,465
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,951 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,724
+36%since 2000
from $18,859 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
23.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
12.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade16.9%
US avg: 10.9%
Information13.2%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance4.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical4.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Public administration3.9%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.7%
US avg: 3.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction3.5%
US avg: 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 2.4%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$106,035
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,801 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$558
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $397 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
44.3%
−28.3 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
27.6% rent
Vacancy rate
9.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
20.9%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
35.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 36.4% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.3
+14%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic93.2%(48,211)
Black1.1%(576)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(1,841)
Asian0.8%(392)
Other1.6%(848)
Diversity Score16.8%(8,689)
Diversity Score
17
+75%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.4%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
91.6%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 87.1% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
5.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.1 min
+47%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
80.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
9.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.3% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
5.0%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
3.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
11.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
29.4%
−32.4 ptssince 2009
from 61.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.4%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.3%
−36.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+55%
Home value$274,355+159%
Population49,308−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Ashland
Income$69,860+54%
Home value$186,800+76%
Population52,523+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Bemidji
Income$68,975+52%
Home value$237,500+124%
Population47,055−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Cornelia
Income$67,309+48%
Home value$238,300+125%
Population50,416+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Mason City, IA?

Mason City, IA has about 51,749 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Mason City, IA earns about $45,465 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 $106,035, and the typical rent is about $558 a month.

How educated are people in Mason City, IA?

About 20.4% 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 12.0% 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 2,975 residents, a change of about -5 percent over that period.

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

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