Iowa

Population

Growing. Up 1.5% since 2020.

3,238,387

people, the 32nd-largest of the 50 states and D.C.

Census Population Estimates, 2025. Rank among the 50 states and D.C. computed by the Almanac. Sources: Census Population Estimates

The workday

About 1 in 15 jobs here go to people who live in another state.

6.9%

of 1,546,079 jobs located in Iowa are filled by people who live in another state.

Census LEHD LODES, 2023. Sources: Census LEHD LODES

Unemployment, 2026

The low came in April: 2.5%.

3.2%

in September 2026, the latest month released. A year earlier it was 3.1%.

BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, monthly, through September 2026. Not seasonally adjusted, so compare with the same month a year earlier. Sources: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics

Rent

Median rent is up 60% since the 2005–2009 survey, before inflation.

$972

a month. The U.S. median is $1,413.

Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024 (latest), with earlier 5-year windows. Sources: Census ACS 5-year

Room to build

Local wages can carry more rent than the median charged today.

$1,117–$1,676

is the monthly rent range local workforce wages support.

• $972 median

Supportable rent computed by the Almanac from 2023 source wage data. Median rent: Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Computed by the Almanac, Census ACS 5-year

Building

Most of the housing here is older than 2000.

• 104,790 homes permitted in ten years, 2016–2025
• 39% of those were in multifamily buildings
• 78% of all homes were built before 2000

Census Building Permits Survey, 2016–2025; Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Census Building Permits Survey, Census ACS 5-year

Home value

A median home costs 37% less than the U.S. median.

$208,000

median home value in Iowa.

• $208,000 Iowa
• $332,700 U.S.

Census ACS 5-year, 2020-2024. Sources: Census ACS 5-year