Hardin County, IA

County

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2024 Population

16,639

US Senator

Chuck Grassley

Republican Party

US Senator

Joni Ernst

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

45.4

0.442% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

9.68%

12.3% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$65,069

0.251% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$122,500

8.41% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

8,191

0.619% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Hardin County, 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.

97.6% of the residents in Hardin County, IA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Hardin County, IA are Ellsworth Community College (185 degrees awarded in 2023).

In 2024, the median property value in Hardin County, IA was $122,500, and the homeownership rate was 73.6%.

Most people in Hardin County, IA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 21.6 minutes. The average car ownership in Hardin County, IA was 2 cars per household.

Hardin County, IA borders Butler County, IA, Franklin County, IA, Grundy County, IA, Hamilton County, IA, Marshall County, IA, Story County, IA, and Wright County, IA.

United States Iowa

Population & Diversity

Hardin County, IA is home to a population of 16.6k people, from which 97.6% are citizens. As of 2024, 3.63% of Hardin County, IA residents were born outside of the country (604 people).

In 2024, there were 36.3 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (15k people) in Hardin County, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 413 Other (Hispanic) and 277 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.6%

2024 Citizenship

98%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 97.6% of Hardin County, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Hardin County, IA was 98%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Hardin County, IA

White (Non-Hispanic)
15k ± 52
Other (Hispanic)
413 ± 129
Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
277 ± 73

5.48%

Hispanic Population

911 people

5.48% of the people in Hardin County, IA are hispanic (911 people).

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

Global Diversity

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

Most Common Origin

Mexico
42,808 ± 5,046 people
India
12,283 ± 2,716 people
China
7,889 ± 2,178 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Iowa was Mexico, the natal country of 42,808 Iowa residents, followed by India with 12,283 and China with 7,889.

Foreign-Born Population

3.63%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

604 people

3.05%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

511 people

As of 2024, 3.63% of Hardin County, IA residents (604 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 Hardin County, IA was 3.05%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
343 ± 85
Gulf War (2001-)
126 ± 50
Gulf War (1990s)
88 ± 45

Hardin County, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.72 times greater than any other conflict.

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

Economy

The economy of Hardin County, IA employs 8.19k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Hardin County, IA were Retail Trade (1,157 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (1,143 people), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (907 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($90,677), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($77,658), and Transportation & Warehousing ($77,500).

Employment

Occupations

8.19k

2024 Value

± 464

−0.619%

1 Year decline

± 7.99%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Hardin County, IA declined at a rate of −0.619%, from 8.24k employees to 8.19k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Hardin County, IA, are Management Occupations (936 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (897 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (810 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Hardin County, IA.

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.

Industries

Employment by Industries

8.19k

2024 Value

± 464

−0.619%

1 Year decline

± 7.99%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Hardin County, IA declined at a rate of −0.619%, from 8.24k employees to 8.19k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Hardin County, IA, are Retail Trade (1,157 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (1,143 people), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (907 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Hardin County, IA, though some of these residents may live in Hardin County, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$48,609

Median earning men ± $1,884

$37,356

Median earning women ± $3,224

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Wholesale Trade ($85,606), Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($78,051), and Public Administration ($75,119).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($59,375), Public Administration ($56,534), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($52,847).

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.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

55
Other Services (except Public Administration)
40
Construction
27
Health Care and Social Assistance

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$53.2k
Manufacturing
$31.2k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$26.2k
Construction

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

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 Hardin County, 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.

Education

In 2023, universities in Hardin County, IA awarded 185 degrees. The student population of Hardin County, IA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 317 male students and 368 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Hardin County, IA are White (129 and 72.9%), Black or African American (22 and 12.4%), Hispanic or Latino (17 and 9.6%), and Unknown (6 and 3.39%).

The largest universities in Hardin County, IA by number of degrees awarded are Ellsworth Community College (185 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Hardin County, IA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (69 and 37.3%), Horse Husbandry & Equine Management (24 and 13%), and Registered Nursing (18 and 9.73%).

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2023 there were 685 students enrolled in Hardin County, IA, 46.3% men and 53.7% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 465 records, of which 63.9% were women and 36.1% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Horse Husbandry & Equine Management
22 degrees awarded
Registered Nursing
18 degrees awarded
Liberal Arts & Sciences
69 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Associates Degree recipients in Hardin County, IA was Horse Husbandry & Equine Management with 22 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Associates Degree from schools in Hardin County, IA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Ellsworth Community College

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

185 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Ellsworth Community College with 185 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2023, 76 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Hardin County, IA, which is 0.697 times less than the 109 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 129 degrees mean that there were 5.86 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 22 degrees awarded.

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.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Public, 2-year ($4,680) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($624) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Public, 2-year ($1,300) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Hardin County, IA was $122,500 in 2024, which is 0.368 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $113,000 to $122,500, a 8.41% increase. The homeownership rate in Hardin County, IA is 73.6%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Hardin County, IA have an average commute time of 21.6 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Hardin County, IA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 10.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Hardin County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 2.91%.

Housing

Property

$122,500

Median Property Value 2024

±$7,470

$5,177

Median Property Taxes

±$337

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 Hardin County, IA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $800 - $1,499 range.

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

Rent vs Own

73.6%

Homeownership

2024

63%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 73.6% of the housing units in Hardin County, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 73.3%.

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

Equity

Household Income

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

$65,069

Median Household Income

± $4,846

7.04k

Number of Households

± 421

In 2024, the median household income of the 7.04k households in Hardin County, IA grew to $65,069 from the previous year's value of $64,906.

The following chart displays the households in Hardin County, 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 $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

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

0.441

2023 Wage GINI in Iowa

0.442

2022 Wage GINI in Iowa

In 2023, the income inequality in Iowa was 0.441 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.304% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Iowa was lower than than the national average of 0.476. 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 2024

Drove Alone (79.4%)
Worked At Home (8.17%)
Carpooled (5.03%)

In 2024, 79.4% of workers in Hardin County, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (8.17%) and those who carpooled to work (5.03%).

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

21.6 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Hardin County, IA have a shorter commute time (21.6 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 3.46% of the workforce in Hardin County, IA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

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

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 10.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Hardin County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator grew 2.91%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

9.68% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Hardin County, IA (1.54k out of 15.9k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 55 - 64, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Males 35 - 44.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Hardin County, IA is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

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.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 13.9% of the children was living in poverty in Hardin County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.8%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children 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.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 106 in Hardin County, IA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 2.8 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

95% of the population of Hardin County, IA has health coverage, with 44.4% on employee plans, 18.5% on Medicaid, 17.9% on Medicare, 13.2% on non-group plans, and 1.02% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Hardin County, IA see 2,785 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,785 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1381 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 2058 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.4% were men and 49.6% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

2,785 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Hardin County, IA

Primary care physicians in Hardin County, IA see an average of 2,785 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (2,785 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 19.9% under 18 years, 16.8% between 18 and 34 years, 40.2% between 35 and 64 years, and 23.1% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.4% were men and 49.6% were women.

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

Uninsured People

5.01%

Uninsured

44.4%

Employer Coverage

18.5%

Medicaid

17.9%

Medicare

13.2%

Non-Group

1.02%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Hardin County, IA grew by 1.96% from 4.91% to 5.01%.

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