Palo Alto County, Iowa Population 2024

8,830

Palo Alto County, Iowa's estimated 2024 population is 8,830 with a growth rate of 0.23% in the past year according to the most recent United States census data. Palo Alto County, Iowa is the 82nd largest county in Iowa. The 2010 population was 9,398 and has seen a growth of -6.04% since that time.

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

34 Rows

Year
Population
Growth
Change
20298,930200.22%
20288,910200.22%
20278,890200.23%
20268,870200.23%
20258,850200.23%
20248,830200.23%
20238,810200.23%
20228,790-133-1.49%
20218,923-63-0.7%
20208,9861131.27%
20198,873-37-0.42%
20188,910-135-1.49%
20179,045130.14%
20169,032-105-1.15%
20159,137170.19%
20149,120-43-0.47%
20139,163-115-1.24%
20129,278-76-0.81%
20119,354-44-0.47%
20109,39800%
199010,669-2,052-16.13%
198012,721-568-4.27%
197013,289-1,447-9.82%
196014,736-1,155-7.27%
195015,891-279-1.73%
194016,1707725.01%
193015,398-88-0.57%
192015,4861,64111.85%
191013,845-509-3.55%
190014,3545,03654.05%
18909,3185,187125.56%
18804,1312,795209.21%
18701,3361,204912.12%
1860132-8,798-98.52%
2024 Growth Rate
0.23% (20)
County Website
Palo Alto County
State
Iowa
County Seat
Emmetsburg
2020 Population
8,986
Area
564 mi²
Density
16 people/mi²
Growth Since 2020
-1.74% (-156)
Founded
January 15, 1851

Population by Race

Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White8,26292.44%
Two or more races3824.27%
Black or African American1832.05%
Other race610.68%
Asian500.56%
Native American00%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander00%

White

Two or more races

Black or African American

Other race

Asian

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Palo Alto County, Iowa Population by Race

Palo Alto County, Iowa Population Pyramid 2024

Palo Alto County, Iowa Median Age

41.3

Total

39.8

Male

43.2

Female

Palo Alto County, Iowa Adults

There are 6,815 adults, (1,965 of whom are seniors) in Palo Alto County, Iowa.

Palo Alto County, Iowa Age Dependency

84.3

Age Dependency Ratio

40.5

Old Age Dependency Ratio

43.8

Child Dependency Ratio

Palo Alto County, Iowa Sex Ratio

Female4,41249.36%
Male4,52650.64%

Palo Alto County, Iowa Population by Age

Palo Alto County, Iowa Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All3,6352.3776.123.9
Married1,7703.1387.312.7
Non Family1,5011.265.634.4
Female2233.4664.135.9
Male1413.436634

3.12

Average Family Size

2.37

Average Household Size

76.1%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Palo Alto County, Iowa Households and Families

Male

Female

Education Attained
Count
Percentage
9th to 12th Grade2914.8%
Associates Degree85114.05%
Bachelors Degree88314.58%
Graduate Degree3395.6%
High School Graduate1,82730.16%
Less Than 9th Grade1362.24%
Some College1,73128.57%

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Palo Alto County, Iowa Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Palo Alto County, Iowa Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

Race
Total
High School
Bachelors
White5,7225,3801,186
Hispanic1327015
Black1191090
2+ Races916312
Other Race25250
Asian999

The highest rate of high school graduation is among asian people with a rate of 100%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 100%.

Palo Alto County, Iowa Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

Name
Average
Male
Female
Bachelors Degree$52,813$63,083$49,010
Graduate Degree$79,286$100,625$70,625
High School Graduate$36,979$41,775$28,915
Less Than 9th Grade$31,250$33,529$23,056
Overall$42,005$51,222$35,820
Some College$37,944$54,185$31,940

$42,005

Average Earnings

$51,222

Average Male

$35,820

Average Female

Palo Alto County, Iowa Earnings by Educational Attainment

Palo Alto County, Iowa Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Palo Alto County, Iowa Language

96.89% of Palo Alto County, Iowa residents speak only English, while 3.11% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 1.56% of the population.

Palo Alto County, Iowa Language

Palo Alto County, Iowa Poverty by Race

rate

Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White7,73888411.42%
Multiple367174.63%
Hispanic311123.86%
Black181105.52%

10.69%

Overall Poverty Rate

9.46%

Male Poverty Rate

11.98%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Palo Alto County, Iowa

The race most likely to be in poverty in Palo Alto County, Iowa is White, with 11.42% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Palo Alto County, Iowa is Hispanic, with 3.86% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.35%. Among those working part-time, it was 8.72%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 18.15%.

Palo Alto County, Iowa Poverty

rate

Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade17.71%
High School11.55%
Some College6.92%
Bachelors or Greater2.99%

Palo Alto County, Iowa Poverty Rate by Education

rate

Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed77.92%
Male Unemployed26.44%
Male Employed4.86%
Female Employed3.11%

Palo Alto County, Iowa Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Palo Alto County, Iowa Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

Name
Median
Mean
Families$86,020$99,329
Households$67,306$80,710
Married Families$98,289$-999,999,999
Non Families$37,477$51,034

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Palo Alto County, Iowa Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

51.1%

Overall Marriage Rate

49.2%

Male Marriage Rate

53.0%

Female Marriage Rate

Palo Alto County, Iowa Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Palo Alto County, Iowa Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 35-44, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

Palo Alto County, Iowa Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Palo Alto County, Iowa Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

516

Number of Veterans

476

Male Veterans

40

Female Veterans

War
Veterans
Vietnam220
First Gulf War75
Korea69
Second Gulf War28
World War II15

Palo Alto County, Iowa Veterans by War

count

Age Group
Veterans
65 to 74203
75+179
35 to 5475
55 to 6452
18 to 347

Palo Alto County, Iowa Veterans by Age

count

Name
Veterans
% of Total
White5100.0785703281466646
Hispanic150.07462686567164178
2+ Races50.03787878787878788
Black10.007575757575757576

Palo Alto County, Iowa Veterans by Race

Palo Alto County, Iowa Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

2.29%

Veteran Poverty Rate

31.81%

Veteran Disability Rate

Palo Alto County, Iowa Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

66.2%

Labor Force Participation

63.8%

Employment Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

Palo Alto County, Iowa Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Palo Alto County, Iowa Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Palo Alto County, Iowa Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

81.6%

Born in Palo Alto County, Iowa

97.93%

Native Born

2.07%

Foreign Born

0.78%

Non Citizen

1.29%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

97.93% of Palo Alto County, Iowa residents were born in the United States, with 81.6% having been born in Iowa. 0.78% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Africa.

Palo Alto County, Iowa Place of Birth

Sources