Cherokee, IA

Census Place

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    2024 Population
    5,154
    US Senator
    Chuck Grassley
    Republican Party
    US Senator
    Joni Ernst
    Republican Party
    2024 Median Age
    43.2
    2.7% 1-year decrease
    2024 Poverty Rate
    18.5%
    30.9% 1-year decrease
    2024 Median Household Income
    $61,750
    26.8% 1-year growth
    2024 Median Property Value
    $136,700
    14.5% 1-year growth
    2024 Employed Population
    2,600
    3.34% 1-year growth

    About

    None of the households in Cherokee, IA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

    96.1% of the residents in Cherokee, IA are U.S. citizens.

    In 2024, the median property value in Cherokee, IA was $136,700, and the homeownership rate was 67.8%.

    Most people in Cherokee, IA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 12.4 minutes. The average car ownership in Cherokee, IA was 2 cars per household.

    United StatesIowaCherokee County, IANorthwest Central Iowa--Storm Lake, Denison & Cherokee Region PUMA, IA

    Population & Diversity

    Cherokee, IA is home to a population of 5.15k people, from which 96.1% are citizens. As of 2024, 5.86% of Cherokee, IA residents were born outside of the country (302 people).

    In 2024, there were 19.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (4.4k people) in Cherokee, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 224 Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 175 Two Races Including Other (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

    Population & Diversity

    Citizenship

    96.1%
    2024 Citizenship
    96.1%
    2023 Citizenship

    As of 2024, 96.1% of Cherokee, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Cherokee, IA was 96.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

    The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Cherokee, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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    Diversity

    Race and Ethnicity

    The 3 largest ethnic groups in Cherokee, IA
    1. White (Non-Hispanic)
      4.4k ± 191
    2. Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
      224 ± 160
    3. Two Races Including Other (Non-Hispanic)
      175 ± 135
    8.07%
    Hispanic Population
    416 people

    In 2024, there were 19.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (4.4k people) in Cherokee, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 224 Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 175 Two Races Including Other (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

    8.07% of the people in Cherokee, IA are hispanic (416 people).

    The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Cherokee, IA as a share of the total population.

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    Global Diversity

    The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Iowa.
    Most Common Origin
    1. Mexico
      44,333 ± 5,134 people
    2. India
      11,889 ± 2,672 people
    3. Guatemala
      8,189 ± 2,219 people

    In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 44,333 Iowa residents, followed by India with 11,889 and Guatemala with 8,189.

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    Foreign-Born Population

    5.86%
    2024 Foreign-Born Population
    302 people
    4.94%
    2023 Foreign-Born Population
    255 people

    As of 2024, 5.86% of Cherokee, IA residents (302 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Cherokee, IA was 4.94%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

    The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Cherokee, IA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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    Military

    Veterans

    Most Common Service Period
    1. Vietnam
      66 ± 57
    2. Gulf War (1990s)
      59 ± 53
    3. Gulf War (2001-)
      46 ± 50

    Cherokee, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.12 times greater than any other conflict.

    The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Cherokee, IA.

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    Health

    93% of the population of Cherokee, IA has health coverage, with 46% on employee plans, 19.8% on Medicaid, 15.7% on Medicare, 10.5% on non-group plans, and 0.951% on military or VA plans.

    Primary care physicians in Iowa see 1,385 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,385 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1411 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 466 patients per year.

    By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women.

    Coverage

    Health Care Diversity

    In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.7% under 18 years, 15.4% between 18 and 34 years, 38.5% between 35 and 64 years, and 20.4% over 64 years.

    By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.6% were men and 51.4% were women.

    The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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    Uninsured People

    7%
    Uninsured
    46%
    Employer Coverage
    19.8%
    Medicaid
    15.7%
    Medicare
    10.5%
    Non-Group
    0.951%
    Military or VA

    Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Cherokee, IA declined by 11.3% from 7.89% to 7%.

    The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Cherokee, IA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

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    Economy

    The economy of Cherokee, IA employs 2.6k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Cherokee, IA were Retail Trade (759 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (413 people), and Manufacturing (197 people), and the highest paying industries were Construction ($87,830), Public Administration ($78,906), and Finance & Insurance ($69,840).

    Employment

    Occupations

    2.6k
    2024 Value
    ± 374
    3.34%
    1 Year growth
    ± 19%

    From 2023 to 2024, employment in Cherokee, IA grew at a rate of 3.34%, from 2.52k employees to 2.6k employees.

    The most common job groups, by number of people living in Cherokee, IA, are Material Moving Occupations (442 people), Sales & Related Occupations (378 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (213 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Cherokee, IA.

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    Unemployment Insurance Claims

    Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

    This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Iowa (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

    The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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    Industries

    Employment by Industries

    2.6k
    2024 Value
    ± 374
    3.34%
    1 Year growth
    ± 19%

    From 2023 to 2024, employment in Cherokee, IA grew at a rate of 3.34%, from 2.52k employees to 2.6k employees.

    The most common employment sectors for those who live in Cherokee, IA, are Retail Trade (759 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (413 people), and Manufacturing (197 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Cherokee, IA, though some of these residents may live in Cherokee, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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    Median Earnings by Industry

    $51,952
    Median earning men ± $5,849
    $32,087
    Median earning women ± $6,610

    The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Manufacturing ($122,768), Construction ($87,830), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($79,286).

    The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($93,750), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($67,949), and Manufacturing ($46,447).

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    Employment by Industry Sector

    Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.
    Y-Axis
    1.48%
    Year-over-year growth
    Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

    As of February 2023, there are 1.57M people employed in Iowa. This represents a 1.48% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

    Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 10.9%.

    The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Iowa.

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    Civics

    In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Iowa went to Donald J. Trump with 55.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (42.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.789%).

    Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing the state of Iowa. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

    Iowa is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

    Presidential Elections

    Voting results are not available for Cherokee, IA. Showing the available data for Iowa.
    2024 Election Results
    1. Donald J. Trump (55.7%)
      Republican Party
    2. Kamala Harris (42.5%)
      Democratic Party
    3. Robert Kennedy (0.789%)
      Independent Party

    In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Iowa went to Donald J. Trump with 55.7% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (42.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.789%).

    The following chart shows the popular vote results in Iowa for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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    Senator Elections

    US Senators from Iowa

    Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.
    Chuck Grassley
    Senator from Iowa3
    Assumed office on January 3, 1981
    Joni Ernst
    Senator from Iowa2
    Assumed office on January 3, 2015

    Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are the senators currently representing Iowa.

    In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

    The following chart shows elected senators in Iowa over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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    Housing & Living

    The median property value in Cherokee, IA was $136,700 in 2024, which is 0.411 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $119,400 to $136,700, a 14.5% increase. The homeownership rate in Cherokee, IA is 67.8%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

    People in Cherokee, IA have an average commute time of 12.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Cherokee, IA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

    Housing

    Property

    $136,700
    Median Property Value 2024
    ±$43,814
    $1,551
    Median Property Taxes
    ±$272

    The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Cherokee, IA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

    The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Cherokee, IA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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    Rent vs Own

    67.8%
    Homeownership
    2024
    60.5%
    Homeowners with Mortgage
    2024

    In 2024, 67.8% of the housing units in Cherokee, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 63.8%.

    This chart shows the percentage of owner in Cherokee, IA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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    Equity

    Household Income

    Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
    $61,750
    Median Household Income
    ± $10,015
    2.29k
    Number of Households
    ± 327

    In 2024, the median household income of the 2.29k households in Cherokee, IA grew to $61,750 from the previous year's value of $48,693.

    The following chart displays the households in Cherokee, IA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $150k - $200k range.

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    Wage Distribution

    The closest comparable wage GINI for Cherokee, IA is from Iowa.
    0.435
    2024 Wage GINI in Iowa
    0.441
    2023 Wage GINI in Iowa

    In 2024, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.435 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 1.29% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Iowa in comparison to the national average.

    This chart shows the number of workers in Iowa across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

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    Transportation

    Commuter Transportation

    Most Common Commute in 2024
    1. Drove Alone (79.2%)
    2. Worked At Home (8.54%)
    3. Carpooled (7.6%)

    In 2024, 79.2% of workers in Cherokee, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (8.54%) and those who carpooled to work (7.6%).

    The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

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    Commute Time

    12.4 minutes
    Average Travel Time

    Using averages, employees in Cherokee, IA have a shorter commute time (12.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 0% of the workforce in Cherokee, IA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

    The chart below shows how the median household income in Cherokee, IA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

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    Car Ownership

    2 cars
    Average Number

    The following chart displays the households in Cherokee, IA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Cherokee, IA have 2 cars.

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    Poverty

    Poverty & Diversity

    18.5% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Cherokee, IA (911 out of 4.93k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 6 - 11, followed by Females 35 - 44 and then Females 75+.

    The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Cherokee, IA is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

    The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

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