Cedar County, Iowa Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Cedar County, Iowa, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Cedar County, Iowa. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Cedar County, Iowa. The estimated population of Cedar County, Iowa is 18,494 people, with a median age of 42.6.

We can look at the total population in Cedar County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
18,494
+0.1%
+0.69%
2020
18,475
+0.1%
-
2019
18,457
+0.07%
-
2018
18,445
+0.42%
-
2017
18,368
 - -

Population of Cedar County, Iowa by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
94.8%
95.8%
 -1.04%
Black/African American
0.6%
0.7%
 -14.29%
Native
0.2%
0.2%
 0.00%
Hispanic
2.3%
1.9%
 +21.05%
Asian
0.7%
0.3%
 +133.33%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
1.4%
1.1%
 +27.27%
Other
0.1%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Cedar County, Iowa by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 42.6 -0.47% 42.2 +0.24% 43.1 -1.15%
2020 42.8 +0.23% 42.1 +1.2% 43.6 -1.36%
2019 42.7 +1.67% 41.6 +0.48% 44.2 +1.84%
2018 42 +0.24% 41.4 +0.49% 43.4 -1.59%
2017 41.9 - 41.2 - 44.1 -

The median age of Cedar County, Iowa gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,086 +7.66% 1,127 -5.26% 1,170 1,068
10 to 19 1,273 -14.82% 1,068 +6.42% 1,093 1,134
20 to 29 888 +4.78% 817 +17.05% 930 963
30 to 39 1,227 -1.38% 1,222 -4.14% 1,199 1,156
40 to 49 1,027 +3.3% 1,093 -6.31% 1,056 1,023
50 to 59 1,372 -5.3% 1,441 -10.55% 1,300 1,294
60 to 69 1,217 +7.17% 1,090 +23.99% 1,305 1,372
70+ 1,058 +4.97% 1,362 -2.87% 1,110 1,321

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Cedar County, Iowa is $72,714.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Cedar County.

  • Under 25
    $59,583.00
  • 25 to 44
    $83,167.00
  • 45 to 64
    $81,771.00
  • 65 and over
    $49,100.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Cedar County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Cedar County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Cedar County, Iowa is currently $83,113.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

3.67% of households in Cedar County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Cedar County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    14.31%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    18.25%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    19.40%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    16.60%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    20.97%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6.80%
  • $200,000 or more
    3.67%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Cedar County is $34,144.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Cedar County by the total population of Cedar County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Cedar County, Iowa, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Cedar County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    7.43%
  • Bachelor's degree
    24.59%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    12.91%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    54.18%
  • Less than high school diploma
    0.89%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Cedar County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Cedar County over the age of 16 is 14,970.

Of those people, a total of 66.80% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Cedar County is 64.50%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 941 45.60% 2.30%
20 to 24 years 897 84.90% 4.20%
25 to 29 years 996 86.00% 0.00%
30 to 34 years 971 93.80% 1.80%
35 to 44 years 2,371 89.80% 7.20%
45 to 54 years 2,328 92.10% 4.50%
55 to 59 years 1,358 81.50% 1.40%
60 to 64 years 1,537 59.50% 1.40%
65 to 74 years 2,023 31.50% 0.80%
75 years and over 1,548 7.00% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Cedar County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 14,514 66.80% 2.80%
Black or African American 77 71.40% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 33 42.40% 0.00%
Asian 120 80.00% 25.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 5 100.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 221 60.20% 36.10%
Hispanic or Latino 301 72.80% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 14,253 66.60% 2.80%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Cedar County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Cedar County is 9,653, with median earnings of $43,168.00.

Women in Cedar County, Iowa earning approximately 67.30% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 9,653 $43,168.00
Male 5,027 $51,685.00
Female 4,626 $34,806.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 1,021 $62,263.00
Business and Financial 404 $57,396.00
Computer and Mathematical 153 $52,029.00
Architecture and Engineering 156 $73,750.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 102 $48,125.00
Community and Social Service 103 $43,640.00
Legal 21 $102,679.00
Educational and Library 517 $40,469.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 64 $26,500.00
Healthcare Practitioners 517 $53,693.00
Healthcare Support 258 $28,958.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 48 $38,750.00
Law Enforcement 93 $57,847.00
Food Preparation and Serving 372 $10,714.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 441 $32,230.00
Personal Care and Service 487 $16,250.00
Sales 783 $31,514.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,146 $36,372.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 193 $22,038.00
Construction and Extraction 795 $58,639.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 464 $46,095.00
Production 743 $46,472.00
Transportation and Material Moving 380 $48,375.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 726 $67,879.00 295 $58,304.00
Business and Financial 78 $68,587.00 326 $55,208.00
Computer and Mathematical 63 $75,481.00 90 $51,636.00
Architecture and Engineering 116 $81,731.00 40 $55,682.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 45 $57,188.00 57 $47,688.00
Community and Social Service 11 $29,464.00 92 $43,824.00
Legal 4 $0.00 17 $74,063.00
Educational and Library 76 $64,792.00 441 $28,750.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 44 $22,143.00 20 $36,250.00
Healthcare Practitioners 75 $51,875.00 442 $53,712.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 258 $28,958.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 40 $50,588.00 8 $0.00
Law Enforcement 77 $55,625.00 16 $91,250.00
Food Preparation and Serving 56 $10,238.00 316 $11,000.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 369 $35,027.00 72 $20,833.00
Personal Care and Service 50 $13,690.00 437 $17,750.00
Sales 343 $71,354.00 440 $20,962.00
Office and Administrative Support 183 $33,774.00 963 $36,936.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 184 $21,925.00 9 $34,583.00
Construction and Extraction 777 $59,139.00 18 $30,357.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 448 $46,214.00 16 $35,417.00
Production 568 $47,257.00 175 $34,926.00
Transportation and Material Moving 358 $49,750.00 22 $37,885.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 7,381 households in Cedar County, with an average household size of 2.47 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 4,880 families in Cedar County with an average family size of 3.01 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 4,099 244 537 2,501
Average Household Size 3.05 3.52 3.41 1.21
Total Families 4,099 244 537 0
Average Household Size 3.03 2.83 2.99 0

Poverty

Of the 4,880 families in Cedar County, 4.40% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Cedar County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 8,171 housing units in Cedar County, Iowa.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 7,381 90.33%
Vacant 790 9.67%

15.20% of the total 8,171 housing units in Cedar County are rental units. This is approximately 1,242 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 5,926 are occupied by the owner - or 72.52% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Cedar County is $778.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Cedar County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    213
  • Less than $500
    234
  • $500 to $999
    826
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    112
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    15
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    11
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    44

Property Value

The median value of a property in Cedar County is $167,500.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Cedar County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    464
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    899
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,094
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1,229
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,160
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    863
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    209
  • $1,000,000 or more
    8

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Cedar County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Cedar County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    3,137
  • 1940 to 1949
    289
  • 1950 to 1959
    585
  • 1960 to 1969
    518
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,185
  • 1980 to 1989
    437
  • 1990 to 1999
    648
  • 2000 to 2009
    997
  • 2010 to 2013
    336
  • 2014 or later
    39

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Cedar County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    244
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,698
  • 2 vehicles available
    2,953
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,486

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Cedar County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Cedar County that commute to work in a particular way.

25.6 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Cedar County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    677
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,015
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    670
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    982
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    934
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    771
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,239
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    423
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    464
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    1,226
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    275
  • 90 or more minutes
    90

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Cedar County, Iowa in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Cedar County, Iowa

We have data for 27 places in Cedar County, Iowa. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.