Van Meter, Dallas County, Iowa Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Van Meter, 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 Van Meter, Iowa. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Van Meter, Iowa. The estimated population of Van Meter, Iowa is 1,528 people, with a median age of 37.7.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
1,528
+10.25%
+25.66%
2020
1,386
+11.86%
-
2019
1,239
+3.94%
-
2018
1,192
-1.97% -
2017
1,216
- -

Population of Van Meter, 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
95.8%
96.5%
-0.73%
Black/African American
0.7%
0%
0.00%
Native
0%
0%
0.00%
Hispanic
0.6%
1.6%
-62.50%
Asian
0.8%
0.1%
+700.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
2.1%
1.7%
+23.53%
Other
0%
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 Van Meter, 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 37.7 +0.8% 36.4 +1.96% 38 -3.06%
2020 37.4 +3.89% 35.7 0% 39.2 +4.53%
2019 36 -3.74% 35.7 -2.19% 37.5 -2.85%
2018 37.4 +2.75% 36.5 +1.11% 38.6 +1.58%
2017 36.4 - 36.1 - 38 -

The median age of Van Meter, 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 9 116 +42.86% 90 3.83% 170 72
10 to 19 91 +25.03% 80 +160.32% 113 184
20 to 29 42 -5.01% 57 -7.77% 37 50
30 to 39 105 -8.68% 82 +44.26% 87 110
40 to 49 93 +78.22% 66 +70.78% 177 105
50 to 59 102 -37.84% 134 +16.67% 67 139
60 to 69 53 +51.47% 52 +29.67% 76 69
70+ 22 +57.49% 31 +47.83% 30 42

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Van Meter, Iowa is $116,181.00.

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 Van Meter.

  • Under 25
    $0.00
  • 25 to 44
    $148,409.00
  • 45 to 64
    $116,250.00
  • 65 and over
    $55,417.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Van Meter, 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 Van Meter, Iowa is currently $131,880.00.

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.

8.28% of households in Van Meter 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 Van Meter against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    3.84%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    9.09%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    13.54%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.74%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    32.73%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    18.79%
  • $200,000 or more
    8.28%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Van Meter is $43,663.00.

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

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

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Van Meter 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
    9.28%
  • Bachelor's degree
    41.24%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    8.76%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    40.72%
  • Less than high school diploma
    0.00%

Employment

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

The total population of Van Meter over the age of 16 is 1,066.

Of those people, a total of 80.80% 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 Van Meter is 79.40%.

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 77 40.30% 0.00%
20 to 24 years 44 93.20% 0.00%
25 to 29 years 43 83.70% 0.00%
30 to 34 years 63 100.00% 0.00%
35 to 44 years 347 94.50% 0.90%
45 to 54 years 173 98.80% 7.00%
55 to 59 years 102 95.10% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 65 72.30% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 105 41.00% 0.00%
75 years and over 47 8.50% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Van Meter. 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 1,022 80.30% 1.80%
Black or African American 11 100.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 2 100.00% 0.00%
Asian 12 66.70% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other 7 100.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 12 100.00% 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 9 100.00% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 1,022 80.30% 1.80%

Occupations

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

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Van Meter is 846, with median earnings of $56,429.00.

Women in Van Meter, Iowa earning approximately 64.80% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 846 $56,429.00
Male 429 $70,913.00
Female 417 $45,982.00

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 80 $74,167.00
Business and Financial 103 $100,417.00
Computer and Mathematical 81 $68,750.00
Architecture and Engineering 3 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 2 $0.00
Community and Social Service 12 $0.00
Legal 13 $0.00
Educational and Library 38 $26,667.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 3 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 24 $51,875.00
Healthcare Support 58 $43,606.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 3 $0.00
Law Enforcement 3 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 11 $4,219.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 5 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 64 $25,179.00
Sales 56 $38,750.00
Office and Administrative Support 124 $50,455.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 3 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 36 $60,000.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 7 $0.00
Production 46 $70,357.00
Transportation and Material Moving 43 $76,250.00

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 63 $73,958.00 17 $74,583.00
Business and Financial 70 $111,061.00 33 $78,021.00
Computer and Mathematical 16 $93,125.00 65 $68,506.00
Architecture and Engineering 3 $0.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 0 $0.00 2 $0.00
Community and Social Service 0 $0.00 12 $0.00
Legal 13 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 0 $0.00 38 $26,667.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 1 $0.00 2 $0.00
Healthcare Practitioners 8 $83,750.00 16 $51,563.00
Healthcare Support 0 $0.00 58 $43,606.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 0 $0.00 3 $0.00
Law Enforcement 3 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 2 $0.00 9 $0.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 3 $0.00 2 $0.00
Personal Care and Service 20 $5,938.00 44 $26,071.00
Sales 43 $25,625.00 13 $43,750.00
Office and Administrative Support 30 $42,750.00 94 $52,500.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 3 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 36 $60,000.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 7 $0.00 0 $0.00
Production 39 $70,982.00 7 $0.00
Transportation and Material Moving 43 $76,250.00 0 $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 495 households in Van Meter, with an average household size of 3.09 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 410 families in Van Meter with an average family size of 3.43 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 355 18 37 85
Average Household Size 3.58 2.5 2.76 1.28
Total Families 355 18 37 0
Average Household Size 3.58 2.11 2.59 0

Poverty

Of the 410 families in Van Meter, 0.00% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Van Meter:

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 527 housing units in Van Meter, Iowa.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 495 93.93%
Vacant 32 6.07%

10.06% of the total 527 housing units in Van Meter are rental units. This is approximately 53 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 439 are occupied by the owner - or 83.30% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Van Meter is $857.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Van Meter 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
    3
  • Less than $500
    5
  • $500 to $999
    28
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    6
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    14
  • $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 Van Meter is $202,000.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    6
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    18
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    68
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    123
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    140
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    79
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    5
  • $1,000,000 or more
    0

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    92
  • 1940 to 1949
    11
  • 1950 to 1959
    46
  • 1960 to 1969
    55
  • 1970 to 1979
    76
  • 1980 to 1989
    17
  • 1990 to 1999
    75
  • 2000 to 2009
    100
  • 2010 to 2013
    55
  • 2014 or later
    0

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 Van Meter that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    10
  • 1 vehicle available
    62
  • 2 vehicles available
    156
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    267

Commuting to Work

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

21 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Van Meter.

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
    34
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    34
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    46
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    123
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    256
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    86
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    75
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    22
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    2
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    35
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    3
  • 90 or more minutes
    2

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Van Meter, 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.