Elma, IA

Census Place

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2023 Population

618

4.57% 1-year growth

US Senator

Chuck Grassley

Republican Party

US Senator

Joni Ernst

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

8.35% 1-year increase

2023 Poverty Rate

23%

6.68% 1-year increase

2023 Median Household Income

$41,528

2.22% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$71,400

0.705% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

244

14.4% 1-year decline

About

In 2023, Elma, IA had a population of 618 people with a median age of 48 and a median household income of $41,528. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of Elma, IA grew from 591 to 618, a 4.57% increase and its median household income grew from $40,625 to $41,528, a 2.22% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Elma, IA are White (Non-Hispanic) (91.3%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (6.31%), Two+ (Hispanic) (1.78%), White (Hispanic) (0.647%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (0%).

None of the households in Elma, 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.

96.6% of the residents in Elma, IA are U.S. citizens.

In 2023, the median property value in Elma, IA was $71,400, and the homeownership rate was 62.3%.

Most people in Elma, IA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 25.2 minutes. The average car ownership in Elma, IA was 2 cars per household.

United States Iowa Howard County, IA Bremer, Winneshiek, Fayette, Clayton, Allamakee, Chickasaw & Howard Counties PUMA, IA

Population & Diversity

Elma, IA is home to a population of 618 people, from which 96.6% are citizens. As of 2023, 3.4% of Elma, IA residents were born outside of the country (21 people).

In 2023, there were 14.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (564 people) in Elma, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 39 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 11 Two+ (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

96.6%

2023 Citizenship

97.3%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 96.6% of Elma, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in Elma, IA was 97.3%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Elma, IA

White (Non-Hispanic)
564 ± 138
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
39 ± 40
Two+ (Hispanic)
11 ± 19.7

2.43%

Hispanic Population

15 people

2.43% of the people in Elma, IA are hispanic (15 people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Elma, IA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Iowa.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
42,604 ± 5,034 people
India
12,351 ± 2,723 people
Vietnam
7,795 ± 2,165 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 42,604 Iowa residents, followed by India with 12,351 and Vietnam with 7,795.

Foreign-Born Population

3.4%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

21 people

2.71%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

16 people

As of 2023, 3.4% of Elma, IA residents (21 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Elma, IA was 2.71%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
15 ± 16
World War II
9 ± 15
Gulf War (2001-)
0 ± 17

Elma, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.67 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Elma, IA employs 244 people. The largest industries in Elma, IA are Manufacturing (89 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (61 people), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (20 people), and the highest paying industries are Other Services Except Public Administration ($105,469), Wholesale Trade ($59,063), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($47,273).

Males in Iowa have an average income that is 1.34 times higher than the average income of females, which is $54,745. The income inequality in Iowa (measured using the Gini index) is 0.442, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

244

2023 Value

± 88

−14.4%

1 Year decline

± 55.4%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Elma, IA declined at a rate of −14.4%, from 285 employees to 244 employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Elma, IA, are Installation, Maintenance, & Repair Occupations (43 people), Production Occupations (34 people), and Material Moving Occupations (25 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Elma, IA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

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

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

244

2023 Value

± 88

−14.4%

1 Year decline

± 55.4%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in Elma, IA declined at a rate of −14.4%, from 285 employees to 244 employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Elma, IA, are Manufacturing (89 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (61 people), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (20 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Elma, IA, though some of these residents may live in Elma, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$27,500

Median earning men ± $28,243

$35,833

Median earning women ± $7,238

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($72,917), Construction ($40,417), and Manufacturing ($17,429).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Manufacturing ($38,750), Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($32,727), and Retail Trade ($5,313).

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.

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

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Elma, IA. Showing the available data for Iowa.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (55.7%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (42.5%)
Democratic Party
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.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Iowa

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Iowa.

Chuck Grassley

Senator from Iowa

Assumed office on January 3, 1981

Joni Ernst

Senator from Iowa

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.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Iowa

Iowa is currently represented by 4 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Iowa have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

Completions

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

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

Measure

In 2022, 0.66% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.685% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

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

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (751k), Some college (564k), and Bachelors Degree (469k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Elma, IA was $71,400 in 2023, which is 0.235 times smaller than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $70,900 to $71,400, a 0.705% increase. The homeownership rate in Elma, IA is 62.3%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in Elma, IA have an average commute time of 25.2 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Elma, IA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$71,400

Median Property Value 2023

±$11,731

$170

Median Property Taxes

±$43

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 Elma, IA the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

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

Rent vs Own

62.3%

Homeownership

2023

45%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 62.3% of the housing units in Elma, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 66.1%.

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

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Census Tract 9603

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

The following map shows all of the places in Elma, IA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$41,528

Median Household Income

± $9,969

273

Number of Households

± 67

In 2023, the median household income of the 273 households in Elma, IA grew to $41,528 from the previous year's value of $40,625.

The following chart displays the households in Elma, 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 $10k - $15k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Elma, IA is from Iowa.

0.442

2022 Wage GINI in Iowa

0.439

2021 Wage GINI in Iowa

In 2022, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.442 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.723% growth from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.478. 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (79.3%)
Carpooled (10.5%)
Worked At Home (5.49%)

In 2023, 79.3% of workers in Elma, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (10.5%) and those who worked at home (5.49%).

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.

Commute Time

25.2 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Elma, IA have a shorter commute time (25.2 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 0.893% of the workforce in Elma, IA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

23% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Elma, IA (132 out of 575 people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 75+, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 55 - 64.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Elma, 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.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

94% of the population of Elma, IA has health coverage, with 32.8% on employee plans, 26.7% on Medicaid, 20.9% on Medicare, 13.3% on non-group plans, and 0.342% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Howard County, IA see 1835 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.164% increase from the previous year (1832 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 4739 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 1896 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Howard County, IA.

1,835 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Howard County, IA

Primary care physicians in Howard County, IA see an average of 1,835 patients per year. This represents a 0.164% increase from the previous year (1,832 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Howard County, IA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 23.9% under 18 years, 16.6% between 18 and 34 years, 33% between 35 and 64 years, and 26.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 39.4% were men and 60.6% were women.

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

Uninsured People

5.98%

Uninsured

32.8%

Employer Coverage

26.7%

Medicaid

20.9%

Medicare

13.3%

Non-Group

0.342%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in Elma, IA declined by 33.2% from 8.96% to 5.98%.

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

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