Buena Vista County, Iowa
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 20,449
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 20,449
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 20,816
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 20,820
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 20,826
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) -1.8%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 0.0%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 20,823
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 20,260
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 6.8%
Persons under 18 years, percent 26.3%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 17.8%
Female persons, percent 49.2%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 78.9%
Black alone, percent(a) 4.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 1.0%
Asian alone, percent(a) 9.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 4.2%
Two or More Races, percent 2.0%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 30.8%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 50.8%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 625
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 21.3%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 8,569
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 73.2%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $159,500
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,331
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $552
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $894
Building Permits, 2025 16
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 7,546
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.62
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 90.8%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 36.5%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 96.4%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 92.1%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 81.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 22.2%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 7.4%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 10.6%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 69.0%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 62.8%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 31,058
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 148,282
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 30,930
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 305,936
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $14,820
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 14.0
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $71,719
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $34,666
Persons in poverty, percent 10.7%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 491
Total employment, 2023 8,855
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 403,755
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 3.1%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 1,314
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 696
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 384
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 560
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 543
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 36.2
Population per square mile, 2010 35.2
Land area in square miles, 2020 574.90
Land area in square miles, 2010 574.92
FIPS Code 19021