Linn County, Iowa Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 2nd-largest in Iowa

The population of Linn County, Iowa is 229,463 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 2nd-largest county in Iowa. The median household income is $76,421, the median home value is $204,400, and the median age is 38.5.

The population of Linn County has grown 9.5% since 2010 (211,713 → 231,762), a +0.65% annualized rate.

Linn County within Iowa · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

229,463

Population

+0.65%

Annual growth

320

People / sq mi

$76,421

Median Income

$204,400

Median Home Value

Linn County covers 717 sq mi of land at 320.0 people per square mile.

About Linn County, IA

Linn County is a county in Iowa with a population of 229,463. It ranks #2 among counties in Iowa by population. The median age is 38.5, in line with the national median. The population is 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

The median household income in Linn County is $76,421, near the US median of $74,580. 6.4% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $204,400, with monthly rent averaging $915. The homeownership rate of 73.3% is higher than the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Linn County reflects 34.8% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, near the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 13.7% of workers primarily work from home, similar to the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 19.1 minutes each way.

Linn County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Linn County had a population of 211,713 in 2010 and 231,762 in 2024, a 9.5% growth over 14 years. The peak was 231,762 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 0.65%.

231,762

Population (2024)

211,713

Population (2010)

231,762

Peak (2024)

0.65%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	211,713	-	-	estimate
2011	214,242	+2,529	+1.19%	estimate
2012	215,542	+1,300	+0.61%	estimate
2013	216,567	+1,025	+0.48%	estimate
2014	218,223	+1,656	+0.76%	estimate
2015	220,392	+2,169	+0.99%	estimate
2016	222,299	+1,907	+0.87%	estimate
2017	224,553	+2,254	+1.01%	estimate
2018	226,060	+1,507	+0.67%	estimate
2019	227,241	+1,181	+0.52%	estimate
2020	230,433	+3,192	+1.40%	estimate
2021	229,474	-959	-0.42%	estimate
2022	228,947	-527	-0.23%	estimate
2023	229,402	+455	+0.20%	estimate
2024	231,762	+2,360	+1.03%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	84.6%
Black or African American	5.8%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.2%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

38.5

Median Age

50.6%

Female

49.4%

Male

16.9%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.9%

5–9

6.1%

10–14

6.6%

15–19

6.6%

20–24

6.4%

25–34

13.3%

35–44

13.4%

45–54

12.1%

55–59

6.4%

60–64

6.3%

65–74

9.8%

75–84

5.0%

85+

2.1%

Children (under 15): 18.6% · Seniors (65+): 16.9%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$76,421+$3,274 vs state
Mean household income	$101,721
Per-capita income	$42,497
Poverty rate	6.4%-0.5% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.5%
Employment-to-population	65.5%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

22.6%

Manufacturing

17.1%

Finance & real estate

10.2%

Information

8.1%

Education & health care

7.9%

Construction

6.5%

Retail trade

5.6%

Arts, entertainment & food

3.3%

The largest employment sector in Linn County is professional & business services, accounting for 22.6% of workers.

How residents commute

0.6%

Drive alone

1.9%

Carpool

76.4%

Public transit

13.7%

Work from home

19.1 min

Avg commute

Housing

$204,400+$8,500 vs state

Median home value

$915

Median rent

73.3%

Homeownership rate

101,989

Total housing units

93.2%

Occupied

6.8%

Vacant

26.7%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

96.2%

With health insurance

95.9%

With broadband internet

22.4%

Foreign-born

7.5%

Veterans (18+)

11.3%

With a disability

93.1%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

95.3%

High School+

34.8%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Iowa

Des Moines (212,464)Cedar Rapids (136,859)Davenport (101,083)Sioux City (85,651)Iowa City (75,264)Ankeny (70,542)West Des Moines (69,893)Waterloo (66,947)Ames (66,112)Council Bluffs (62,564)All Iowa cities →

Other counties in Iowa

Polk County (497,441)Scott County (174,302)Johnson County (154,881)Black Hawk County (130,693)Woodbury County (105,760)Dallas County (104,136)Dubuque County (98,948)Story County (98,592)Pottawattamie County (93,407)Warren County (53,484)All Iowa counties →

Part of Iowa

Iowa demographic profile All Iowa data →

Metro areas in Iowa

Omaha (972,840)Des Moines (720,331)Davenport (381,864)Cedar Rapids (275,960)Iowa City (177,420)Waterloo (168,163)Sioux City (144,007)Ames (125,261)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Linn County, Iowa has a population of 229,463 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 2nd-largest county in Iowa. Population density is 320 people per square mile.

The population of Linn County has grown 9.5% since 2010 (211,713 → 231,762), a +0.65% annualized rate.

The median household income in Linn County, Iowa is $76,421, with mean (average) household income of $101,721 and per-capita income of $42,497. 6.4% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Linn County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (84.6%), Black or African American (5.8%), Hispanic or Latino (1.2%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Linn County, Iowa is 38.5 years. Residents are 50.6% female and 49.4% male.

The median home value in Linn County is $204,400 and median monthly rent is $915. 73.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 101,989 total housing units, 6.8% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Linn County, Iowa is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 22.6% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.5%.

Des Moines is among the largest cities associated with Linn County, Iowa, with a population of 212,464.