Woodbury County, IA

County

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2024 Population

106,247

US Senator

Chuck Grassley

Republican Party

US Senator

Joni Ernst

Republican Party

2024 Median Age

36.1

0.276% 1-year decrease

2024 Poverty Rate

14%

4.62% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$73,658

5.01% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$183,200

6.51% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

52,765

0.184% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Woodbury 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.

93.6% of the residents in Woodbury County, IA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Woodbury County, IA are Western Iowa Tech Community College (1,718 degrees awarded in 2024), Morningside University (592 degrees), and Briar Cliff University (248 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Woodbury County, IA was $183,200, and the homeownership rate was 68.2%.

Most people in Woodbury County, IA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 18.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Woodbury County, IA was 2 cars per household.

Woodbury County, IA borders Cherokee County, IA, Crawford County, IA, Ida County, IA, Monona County, IA, Plymouth County, IA, Dakota County, NE, Thurston County, NE, and Union County, SD.

United States Iowa Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Population & Diversity

Woodbury County, IA is home to a population of 106k people, from which 93.6% are citizens. As of 2024, 10.4% of Woodbury County, IA residents were born outside of the country (11.1k people).

In 2024, there were 7.16 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (71.3k people) in Woodbury County, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 9.95k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 5.18k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

93.6%

2024 Citizenship

94.1%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 93.6% of Woodbury County, IA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Woodbury County, IA was 94.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

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

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Woodbury County, IA

White (Non-Hispanic)
71.3k ± 382
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
9.95k ± 1.08k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
5.18k ± 437

19.1%

Hispanic Population

20.3k people

19.1% of the people in Woodbury County, IA are hispanic (20.3k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Woodbury 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
44,333 ± 5,134 people
India
11,889 ± 2,672 people
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.

Foreign-Born Population

10.4%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

11.1k people

9.85%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

10.4k people

As of 2024, 10.4% of Woodbury County, IA residents (11.1k 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 Woodbury County, IA was 9.85%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

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

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,806 ± 255
Gulf War (2001-)
880 ± 202
Gulf War (1990s)
756 ± 269

Woodbury County, IA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.05 times greater than any other conflict.

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

Health

92.7% of the population of Woodbury County, IA has health coverage, with 44.9% on employee plans, 22.6% on Medicaid, 11.7% on Medicare, 12.2% on non-group plans, and 1.27% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Woodbury County, IA see 1,576 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,576 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1448 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 352 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

1,576 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Woodbury County, IA

Primary care physicians in Woodbury County, IA see an average of 1,576 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,576 patients).

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

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 27.5% under 18 years, 21.3% between 18 and 34 years, 35.7% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.5% 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

7.29%

Uninsured

44.9%

Employer Coverage

22.6%

Medicaid

11.7%

Medicare

12.2%

Non-Group

1.27%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Woodbury County, IA grew by 12.4% from 6.48% to 7.29%.

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

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the average number of mentally unhealthy days reported in past 30 days (age-adjusted) was 5.32 in Woodbury County, IA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Woodbury County, IA.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 38.5% in Woodbury County, IA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Woodbury County, IA.

Clinical Care

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance was 7.11% in Woodbury County, IA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Woodbury County, IA.

Economy

The economy of Woodbury County, IA employs 52.8k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Woodbury County, IA were Manufacturing (10,127 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (7,330 people), and Retail Trade (5,960 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($101,736), Public Administration ($87,995), and Finance & Insurance ($60,060).

Employment

Occupations

52.8k

2024 Value

± 1,838

0.184%

1 Year growth

± 4.88%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Woodbury County, IA grew at a rate of 0.184%, from 52.7k employees to 52.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Woodbury County, IA, are Production Occupations (6,913 people), Management Occupations (5,693 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (4,539 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Woodbury 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

52.8k

2024 Value

± 1,838

0.184%

1 Year growth

± 4.88%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Woodbury County, IA grew at a rate of 0.184%, from 52.7k employees to 52.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Woodbury County, IA, are Manufacturing (10,127 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (7,330 people), and Retail Trade (5,960 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Woodbury County, IA, though some of these residents may live in Woodbury County, IA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$50,870

Median earning men ± $1,700

$38,439

Median earning women ± $2,149

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($89,963), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($83,418), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($65,250).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($71,250), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($50,162), and Wholesale Trade ($46,314).

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

181
Other Services (except Public Administration)
133
Construction
132
Retail Trade

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

$508k
Health Care and Social Assistance
$479k
Manufacturing
$214k
Retail Trade

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 Woodbury 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 2024, universities in Woodbury County, IA awarded 2,675 degrees. The student population of Woodbury County, IA in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 3,402 male students and 5,326 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Woodbury County, IA are White (1,609 and 65.6%), Hispanic or Latino (494 and 20.1%), Black or African American (107 and 4.36%), and Two or More Races (97 and 3.95%).

The largest universities in Woodbury County, IA by number of degrees awarded are Western Iowa Tech Community College (1,718 and 64.2%), Morningside University (592 and 22.1%), and Briar Cliff University (248 and 9.27%).

The most popular majors in Woodbury County, IA are Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Assistant (435 and 16.3%), Registered Nursing (195 and 7.29%), and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic) (143 and 5.35%).

The median tuition cost for private four year colleges is $34,230.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2024 in Woodbury County, IA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 71.1%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 16.3%. The number of students enrolled in 2024 was 8,728 (39% men and 61% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2024 there were 8,728 students enrolled in Woodbury County, IA, 39% men and 61% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 5,199 records, of which 64.1% were women and 35.9% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Assistant
435 degrees awarded
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic)
127 degrees awarded
Physical Education Teaching & Coaching
64 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Certificate of less than 1 academic year recipients in Woodbury County, IA was Nursing Assistant & Patient Care Assistant with 435 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Certificate of less than 1 academic year from schools in Woodbury County, IA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Western Iowa Tech Community College
1,718 degrees awarded
Morningside University
592 degrees awarded
Briar Cliff University
248 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Western Iowa Tech Community College with 1,718 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2024, 943 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Woodbury County, IA, which is 0.544 times less than the 1,732 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,609 degrees mean that there were 3.26 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 494 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

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($34,230) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,502) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,253) 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 Woodbury County, IA was $183,200 in 2024, which is 0.551 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $172,000 to $183,200, a 6.51% increase. The homeownership rate in Woodbury County, IA is 68.2%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Woodbury County, IA have an average commute time of 18.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Woodbury County, IA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 12.5% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Woodbury County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.795%.

Housing

Property

$183,200

Median Property Value 2024

±$4,800

$27,754

Median Property Taxes

±$1,142

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 Woodbury County, IA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

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

Rent vs Own

68.2%

Homeownership

2024

62.9%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 68.2% of the housing units in Woodbury County, IA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 68.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Woodbury 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.

$73,658

Median Household Income

± $2,611

40.7k

Number of Households

± 1,549

In 2024, the median household income of the 40.7k households in Woodbury County, IA grew to $73,658 from the previous year's value of $70,147.

The following chart displays the households in Woodbury 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 Woodbury County, 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.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (79.5%)
Carpooled (11.2%)
Worked At Home (5.58%)

In 2024, 79.5% of workers in Woodbury County, IA drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (11.2%) and those who worked at home (5.58%).

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

18.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Woodbury County, IA have a shorter commute time (18.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.75% of the workforce in Woodbury County, IA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Woodbury 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 Woodbury County, IA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Woodbury County, IA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 12.5% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Woodbury County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.795%.

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

Poverty & Diversity

14% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Woodbury County, IA (14.4k out of 103k 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 Females 35 - 44, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 18 - 24.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Woodbury 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, 16.1% of the children was living in poverty in Woodbury County, IA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 5.8%.

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

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

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 355 in Woodbury County, IA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 4.51% per 100,000 population.

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