Loess Hills of western Iowa at sunset
County in Iowa

Pottawattamie County

Pottawattamie County has the 10th largest economy in Iowa ($6.3 billion GDP) and the 13th lowest homeownership rate (69.9%).

Pottawattamie County is home to 93,529 people (2024 estimate) on 951 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
93,529
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
93,647
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−0.1%
2020–2024
Land area
951 mi²
2,464 km²
Population density
98.3 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
964
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,079
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
−115
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+289
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$62,836
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$6.3 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$73,602
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
12.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
23.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
4.0%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$195,700
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.2%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
93,529▲ 6%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate93,5292024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census93,1582010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 200088,022July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+6.3%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+2802024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration+92024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate10.3 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate11.5 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in Iowa10th of 992024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$62,836BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$6.3 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$73,602ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate12.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher23.6%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents4.0%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$195,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,018/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age40.1 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households37,642ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes69.9%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Pottawattamie County in context

Comparable indicators for Pottawattamie County, Iowa and the United States.

IndicatorCountyIowaU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024−0.1%+1.6%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)10.311.210.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)11.510.09.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)3.15.98.22024
Population density (/mi²)98.358.096.32024
Per capita personal income$62,836$65,225$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$73,602$75,059$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate12.1%11.1%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher23.6%31.4%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents4.0%5.9%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$195,700$208,000$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,018/month$972/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age40.1 years38.6 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes69.9%71.7%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Cities & towns

1 city · choose how to order them

Did you know? Pottawattamie County

10th most populous of 99

With 93,529 residents in 2024, Pottawattamie County ranks 10th by population among Iowa's 99 counties and is home to 2.9% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 88,022 in 2000 to 93,529 in 2024, a change of +6.3%, compared with +10.7% for Iowa as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 964 births and 1,079 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 115.

Peak population in 2015

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 93,657 in 2015. The 2024 figure is 128 lower.

11th in density

Pottawattamie County has about 98.3 residents per square mile of land, ranking 11th of 99 counties; Iowa averages 58.0.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $73,602 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 34th of 99 Iowa counties; the state median is $75,059.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $6.3 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 10th largest among 99 Iowa counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 4.9% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology