Dubuque County, Iowa Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Dubuque 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 Dubuque County, Iowa. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Dubuque County, Iowa. The estimated population of Dubuque County, Iowa is 98,687 people, with a median age of 38.6.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
98,687
+1.54%
+2.19%
2020
97,193
+0.22%
-
2019
96,982
+0.19%
-
2018
96,802
+0.24%
-
2017
96,571
 - -

Population of Dubuque 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
89.8%
91.4%
 -1.75%
Black/African American
2.9%
2.8%
 +3.57%
Native
0.1%
0%
 0.00%
Hispanic
2.7%
2.3%
 +17.39%
Asian
1.2%
1.3%
 -7.69%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.6%
0.4%
 +50.00%
Two Or More Races
2.4%
1.7%
 +41.18%
Other
0.2%
0.1%
 +100.00%

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 Dubuque 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 38.6 +0.26% 37.6 +1.62% 39.4 -1.25%
2020 38.5 -0.26% 37 0% 39.9 -0.75%
2019 38.6 +0.26% 37 +0.54% 40.2 0%
2018 38.5 -0.26% 36.8 -0.27% 40.2 -0.25%
2017 38.6 - 36.9 - 40.3 -

The median age of Dubuque 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 6,282 -1.59% 6,039 +6.02% 6,181 6,406
10 to 19 6,869 -3.47% 6,450 +4.22% 6,632 6,685
20 to 29 6,597 -0.53% 6,263 +2.88% 6,561 6,445
30 to 39 5,631 +11.65% 5,499 +7.12% 6,310 5,899
40 to 49 5,723 -7.76% 5,499 -7.47% 5,280 5,095
50 to 59 6,888 -8.45% 6,676 -3.82% 6,323 6,423
60 to 69 5,207 +19.57% 5,706 +6.53% 6,300 6,076
70+ 4,560 +8.87% 6,682 +6.1% 4,976 7,095

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Dubuque County, Iowa is $68,198.00.

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 Dubuque County.

  • Under 25
    $33,432.00
  • 25 to 44
    $78,547.00
  • 45 to 64
    $83,861.00
  • 65 and over
    $49,006.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Dubuque 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 Dubuque County, Iowa is currently $88,409.00.

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.

5.67% of households in Dubuque 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 Dubuque County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    15.84%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    20.61%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    18.05%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    15.71%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    17.69%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    6.43%
  • $200,000 or more
    5.67%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Dubuque County is $35,816.00.

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

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Dubuque 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 Dubuque 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
    13.08%
  • Bachelor's degree
    32.27%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    8.97%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    44.03%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.65%

Employment

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

The total population of Dubuque County over the age of 16 is 78,928.

Of those people, a total of 67.60% 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 Dubuque County is 64.80%.

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 6,145 55.90% 9.00%
20 to 24 years 6,768 76.90% 4.60%
25 to 29 years 6,238 88.10% 2.40%
30 to 34 years 5,793 91.00% 2.50%
35 to 44 years 11,565 92.20% 6.80%
45 to 54 years 11,370 90.70% 3.90%
55 to 59 years 6,602 78.20% 2.40%
60 to 64 years 6,923 64.50% 1.20%
65 to 74 years 9,900 29.00% 1.80%
75 years and over 7,624 6.30% 1.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Dubuque 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 73,278 67.10% 3.20%
Black or African American 1,932 74.80% 32.10%
American Indian and Alaska Native 193 83.90% 16.00%
Asian 1,047 78.20% 1.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 361 59.80% 9.70%
Other 623 60.70% 4.20%
Two or more races 1,494 78.40% 3.30%
Hispanic or Latino 1,761 65.00% 2.70%
Not Hispanic or Latino 72,421 67.10% 3.30%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Dubuque 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 Dubuque County is 51,166, with median earnings of $40,718.00.

Women in Dubuque County, Iowa earning approximately 68.20% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 51,166 $40,718.00
Male 26,221 $49,340.00
Female 24,945 $33,649.00

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 4,863 $64,678.00
Business and Financial 2,882 $58,426.00
Computer and Mathematical 1,177 $56,821.00
Architecture and Engineering 1,424 $81,563.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 243 $69,760.00
Community and Social Service 632 $41,477.00
Legal 254 $56,875.00
Educational and Library 3,319 $42,794.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 874 $37,361.00
Healthcare Practitioners 3,485 $54,888.00
Healthcare Support 1,705 $19,787.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 356 $22,632.00
Law Enforcement 378 $64,406.00
Food Preparation and Serving 2,958 $11,219.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 1,214 $23,919.00
Personal Care and Service 1,518 $14,174.00
Sales 4,668 $31,781.00
Office and Administrative Support 6,268 $35,141.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 199 $33,068.00
Construction and Extraction 2,141 $49,867.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 1,569 $55,276.00
Production 4,489 $43,484.00
Transportation and Material Moving 1,866 $45,637.00

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 3,054 $78,603.00 1,809 $52,832.00
Business and Financial 1,187 $69,159.00 1,695 $55,456.00
Computer and Mathematical 899 $62,904.00 278 $45,625.00
Architecture and Engineering 1,281 $81,549.00 143 $81,625.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 136 $75,313.00 107 $59,271.00
Community and Social Service 169 $39,955.00 463 $42,841.00
Legal 78 $168,571.00 176 $44,929.00
Educational and Library 809 $53,781.00 2,510 $38,606.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 282 $48,864.00 592 $33,882.00
Healthcare Practitioners 589 $88,854.00 2,896 $51,563.00
Healthcare Support 161 $17,277.00 1,544 $20,976.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 305 $22,829.00 51 $14,464.00
Law Enforcement 277 $64,435.00 101 $64,375.00
Food Preparation and Serving 1,319 $12,945.00 1,639 $8,888.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 650 $35,278.00 564 $21,107.00
Personal Care and Service 288 $6,898.00 1,230 $14,750.00
Sales 2,279 $42,860.00 2,389 $26,893.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,661 $37,527.00 4,607 $34,903.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 164 $36,944.00 35 $28,385.00
Construction and Extraction 2,094 $49,927.00 47 $44,306.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 1,501 $56,171.00 68 $27,903.00
Production 3,589 $46,442.00 900 $31,702.00
Transportation and Material Moving 1,660 $49,375.00 206 $21,250.00

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 39,534 households in Dubuque County, with an average household size of 2.4 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 25,390 families in Dubuque County with an average family size of 2.98 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 20,089 1,836 3,465 14,144
Average Household Size 3.01 3 3.22 1.25
Total Families 20,089 1,836 3,465 0
Average Household Size 3 2.66 3.01 0

Poverty

Of the 25,390 families in Dubuque County, 5.40% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Dubuque 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 42,406 housing units in Dubuque County, Iowa.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 39,534 93.23%
Vacant 2,872 6.77%

23.50% of the total 42,406 housing units in Dubuque County are rental units. This is approximately 9,965 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 29,095 are occupied by the owner - or 68.61% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Dubuque County is $836.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Dubuque 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
    474
  • Less than $500
    1,247
  • $500 to $999
    5,407
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    2,608
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    389
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    72
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    74
  • $3,000 or more
    168

Property Value

The median value of a property in Dubuque County is $183,700.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    1,746
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    2,632
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    6,128
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5,944
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    6,838
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    4,599
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    991
  • $1,000,000 or more
    217

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    10,284
  • 1940 to 1949
    1,925
  • 1950 to 1959
    4,242
  • 1960 to 1969
    5,228
  • 1970 to 1979
    5,755
  • 1980 to 1989
    2,056
  • 1990 to 1999
    4,117
  • 2000 to 2009
    5,451
  • 2010 to 2013
    3,304
  • 2014 or later
    44

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 Dubuque County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    2,281
  • 1 vehicle available
    12,468
  • 2 vehicles available
    15,937
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    8,848

Commuting to Work

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

16.7 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Dubuque 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
    2,307
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    9,129
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    11,696
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    10,202
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    5,085
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    2,099
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    2,597
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    487
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    560
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    702
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    853
  • 90 or more minutes
    656

Summary

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

We have data for 34 places in Dubuque County, Iowa. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.