CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS

Mason City Micro

Mason City, IA · 2 counties · 50,570 residents · 968.423 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

Mason City has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $56,724. Population has declined 7% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $127,044. With a median age of 44.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
50,570
−7%since 2000
from 54,356 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
52 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 56 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
44.5
+13%since 2000
from 39.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
50K51K52K54K55K1990201020202024Mason City
202450K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,724
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,951 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,392
+77%since 2000
from $18,859 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
36.6%
+13.0 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
8.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15.9%
US avg: 10%
Information12.7%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$127,044
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,801 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$693
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $397 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
71.2%
−1.4 ptssince 2000
from 72.6% in 2000
28.8% rent
Afford Score
2.2
+9%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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic88.5%(44,765)
Black1.8%(908)
Hispanic / Latino4.9%(2,454)
Asian1.1%(561)
Other2.1%(1,045)
Diversity Score23.3%(11,788)
Segregation Score22.8%(11,534)
Diversity Score
23
+144%since 2000
from 10 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
23
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.5%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.2%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 87.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
7.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.0 min
+65%since 2000
from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
81.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.9%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 69.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.7%
−30.2 ptssince 2009
from 61.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.2%
−87.5 ptssince 2013
from 91.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+24%
Home value$274,355+116%
Population49,308−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Ashland
Income$69,860+23%
Home value$186,800+47%
Population52,523+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Bemidji
Income$68,975+22%
Home value$237,500+87%
Population47,055−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Cornelia
Income$67,309+19%
Home value$238,300+88%
Population50,416+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Mason City, IA?

Mason City, IA has about 50,570 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Mason City, IA earns about $56,724 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 $127,044, and the typical rent is about $693 a month.

How educated are people in Mason City, IA?

About 22.5% 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 8.9% 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 4,154 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Mason City with another metro

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

How we source and harmonize this data →