Clarke County, Iowa Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Clarke 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 Clarke County, Iowa. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Clarke County, Iowa. The estimated population of Clarke County, Iowa is 9,736 people, with a median age of 38.2.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
9,736
+3.76%
+5.06%
2020
9,383
+0.25%
-
2019
9,360
+0.84%
-
2018
9,282
+0.16%
-
2017
9,267
- -

Population of Clarke 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
80.6%
84.6%
-4.73%
Black/African American
0.1%
0.1%
0.00%
Native
0.2%
0%
0.00%
Hispanic
15.9%
12.7%
+25.20%
Asian
0%
1%
-100.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.9%
1.5%
+93.33%
Other
0.3%
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 Clarke 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 38.2 -4.26% 36.7 -5.9% 40.4 -4.49%
2020 39.9 -1.48% 39 -0.51% 42.3 -1.63%
2019 40.5 +2.53% 39.2 +3.43% 43 +1.9%
2018 39.5 -2.95% 37.9 -0.52% 42.2 -4.09%
2017 40.7 - 38.1 - 44 -

The median age of Clarke 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 9 652 +27.98% 670 +18.69% 827 787
10 to 19 682 +14.11% 411 +18.25% 743 468
20 to 29 530 -2.08% 583 -15.99% 514 489
30 to 39 610 +16.02% 465 +19.65% 702 562
40 to 49 420 +22.16% 542 -17.76% 520 449
50 to 59 619 -28.41% 827 4.48% 458 803
60 to 69 637 +20.65% 562 -17.3% 773 463
70+ 450 +23.89% 607 +2.37% 557 621

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Clarke County, Iowa is $58,617.00.

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 Clarke County.

  • Under 25
    $38,542.00
  • 25 to 44
    $65,250.00
  • 45 to 64
    $80,313.00
  • 65 and over
    $50,381.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Clarke 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 Clarke County, Iowa is currently $76,090.00.

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.

3.40% of households in Clarke 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 Clarke County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    23.80%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    15.64%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    23.66%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    12.91%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    13.58%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    7.01%
  • $200,000 or more
    3.40%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Clarke County is $30,876.00.

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

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Clarke 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 Clarke 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
    5.18%
  • Bachelor's degree
    18.23%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    9.28%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    63.49%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.82%

Employment

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

The total population of Clarke County over the age of 16 is 7,457.

Of those people, a total of 61.90% 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 Clarke County is 59.60%.

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 546 50.40% 34.20%
20 to 24 years 544 89.90% 0.00%
25 to 29 years 459 81.00% 1.10%
30 to 34 years 497 65.80% 3.10%
35 to 44 years 1,204 86.50% 2.70%
45 to 54 years 1,114 83.30% 1.10%
55 to 59 years 679 82.30% 0.90%
60 to 64 years 637 50.20% 0.60%
65 to 74 years 1,043 23.10% 0.00%
75 years and over 734 9.10% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Clarke 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 6,928 59.70% 1.60%
Black or African American 9 66.70% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 18 27.80% 0.00%
Asian 2 100.00% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 266 97.70% 27.30%
Two or more races 234 89.30% 8.60%
Hispanic or Latino 911 73.70% 14.90%
Not Hispanic or Latino 6,325 59.60% 1.00%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Clarke 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 Clarke County is 4,441, with median earnings of $36,930.00.

Women in Clarke County, Iowa earning approximately 88.00% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 4,441 $36,930.00
Male 2,464 $38,990.00
Female 1,977 $34,330.00

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 390 $55,000.00
Business and Financial 211 $65,764.00
Computer and Mathematical 13 $118,523.00
Architecture and Engineering 96 $29,643.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 13 $45,781.00
Community and Social Service 40 $75,978.00
Legal 55 $0.00
Educational and Library 288 $43,359.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 95 $33,995.00
Healthcare Practitioners 142 $49,545.00
Healthcare Support 146 $53,750.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 6 $18,750.00
Law Enforcement 11 $65,417.00
Food Preparation and Serving 304 $21,071.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 117 $31,932.00
Personal Care and Service 44 $13,690.00
Sales 267 $17,224.00
Office and Administrative Support 438 $38,110.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 29 $30,625.00
Construction and Extraction 462 $42,500.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 228 $55,179.00
Production 686 $21,905.00
Transportation and Material Moving 211 $42,670.00

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 181 $54,115.00 209 $69,861.00
Business and Financial 71 $138,225.00 140 $54,035.00
Computer and Mathematical 12 $0.00 1 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 73 $29,129.00 23 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 12 $0.00 1 $0.00
Community and Social Service 5 $41,250.00 35 $76,250.00
Legal 32 $0.00 23 $0.00
Educational and Library 72 $44,082.00 216 $19,477.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 76 $34,402.00 19 $2,499.00
Healthcare Practitioners 0 $0.00 142 $49,545.00
Healthcare Support 24 $31,304.00 122 $65,352.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 1 $0.00 5 $0.00
Law Enforcement 6 $0.00 5 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 202 $23,143.00 102 $11,838.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 56 $21,618.00 61 $36,114.00
Personal Care and Service 3 $0.00 41 $13,512.00
Sales 74 $40,625.00 193 $16,710.00
Office and Administrative Support 151 $39,292.00 287 $37,188.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 27 $30,375.00 2 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 426 $72,632.00 36 $40,833.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 209 $56,875.00 19 $0.00
Production 446 $33,297.00 240 $10,810.00
Transportation and Material Moving 185 $44,148.00 26 $0.00

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 3,740 households in Clarke County, with an average household size of 2.56 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 2,483 families in Clarke County with an average family size of 3.13 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 1,990 233 260 1,257
Average Household Size 3.2 4.18 2.89 1.19
Total Families 1,990 233 260 0
Average Household Size 3.16 3.31 2.75 0

Poverty

Of the 2,483 families in Clarke County, 9.00% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Clarke 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 4,234 housing units in Clarke County, Iowa.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 3,740 88.33%
Vacant 494 11.67%

23.69% of the total 4,234 housing units in Clarke County are rental units. This is approximately 1,003 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 2,657 are occupied by the owner - or 62.75% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Clarke County is $653.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Clarke 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
    80
  • Less than $500
    325
  • $500 to $999
    536
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    138
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    4
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Clarke County is $125,300.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    208
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    849
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    521
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    311
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    443
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    282
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    23
  • $1,000,000 or more
    20

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,146
  • 1940 to 1949
    216
  • 1950 to 1959
    255
  • 1960 to 1969
    228
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,040
  • 1980 to 1989
    313
  • 1990 to 1999
    455
  • 2000 to 2009
    388
  • 2010 to 2013
    189
  • 2014 or later
    4

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 Clarke County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    308
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,058
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,285
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,089

Commuting to Work

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

27.1 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Clarke 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
    295
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    917
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    596
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    158
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    302
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    66
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    310
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    41
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    140
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    600
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    510
  • 90 or more minutes
    71

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Clarke 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 Clarke County, Iowa

We have data for 14 places in Clarke County, Iowa. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.