United States › Mason City MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2020 ACS
Mason City Micro Mason City, IA · 2 counties · 50,570 residents · 968 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 50,570 people, Mason City is a metro area. The median age is 44.5, about 6 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $127,044, having risen by half since 2000. About 22% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The foreign-born share is 2%. Getting to work takes 18 minutes on average.
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 from 39.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
50K 51K 52K 54K 55K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Mason City Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $56,724
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,951 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $18,859 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 8.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Public administration 4.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.4%
Transportation & warehousing 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.4%
Education & health services 0.7%
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$127,044
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,801 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$693
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $397 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 72.6% in 2000
28.8% rent
from 2.22 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.1%(51,670)
Hispanic / Latino 2.6%(1,415)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 88.5%(44,765)
Hispanic / Latino 4.9%(2,454)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 25 more ancestry groups with data from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 87.1% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 79.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 6.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 69.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 8.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 29.6%(6,072)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 8.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 9.9%(316)
Share of the 3,204 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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In this metro
Largest cities What's inside
2 component counties Drill deeper
Metros 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%
Population 49,308 −1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Ashland
Income $69,860 +23%
Home value $186,800 +47%
Population 52,523 +6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Bemidji
Income $68,975 +22%
Home value $237,500 +87%
Population 47,055 −5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MASON CITY VS
Cornelia
Income $67,309 +19%
Home value $238,300 +88%
Population 50,416 +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.
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