Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Adel, IA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

6,430

Median Agei

36.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

86.2%5,544

Hispanic/Latino

6%383

Two or More

4.7%304

Other

1.9%120

Black

0.9%55

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.4%24

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4%166

High School Diploma

21.3%888

Some College (<1 yr)

7.2%301

Some College (1+ yr)

11.8%492

Associate's Degree

12.5%523

Bachelor's Degree

25.4%1,062

Master's Degree

9.2%384

Professional Degree

1.1%46

Doctorate

2.2%91

HS or Higher

94.7%

BA or Higher

37.9%

Graduate+

12.5%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$327,900

Median Renti

$926

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

65.2%1,547

Renter-Occupied

34.8%825

Total Units

2,421

Homeownership

65.2%

Vacancy Rate

Home Values

Under $50K

4.9%76

$50K–$100K

0.3%4

$100K–$150K

3.3%51

$150K–$200K

11.8%182

$200K–$300K

22%341

$300K–$500K

49.4%764

$500K–$1M

8.3%129

Rent Distribution

Under $500

121

$500–$750

118

$750–$1,000

222

$1,000–$1,250

129

$1,250–$1,500

114

$1,500–$2,000

$2,000+

Year Built

2020 or later

4.7%114

2010–2019

35.2%851

2000–2009

4.1%99

1990–1999

7.4%179

1980–1989

5.7%138

1970–1979

13.9%337

1960–1969

3.7%90

1950–1959

5.4%130

1940–1949

4.3%103

1939 or earlier

15.7%380

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

68%1,614

Electricity

26%617

Bottled/LP Gas

2.8%67

Other

1.8%43

No Fuel

0.7%16

Wood

0.6%15

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$95,250

Mean Household Incomei

$100,792

Per Capita Incomei

$37,696

Poverty Ratei

7.1%

Unemploymenti

2.7%

Labor Forcei

3,266

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

6.9%164

$10K–$15K

0.1%3

$15K–$20K

1.5%36

$20K–$25K

2.2%52

$25K–$30K

3.2%77

$30K–$35K

2.4%56

$35K–$40K

2.4%57

$40K–$45K

6.1%145

$45K–$50K

3.1%73

$50K–$60K

4.5%107

$60K–$75K

11.5%273

$75K–$100K

8.6%204

$100K–$125K

14.8%352

$125K–$150K

14%332

$150K–$200K

11.2%265

$200K+

7.4%176

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

Residentsi

Avg. Tenant Renti

$531/mo

Programs in this community

Public Housing1 homes

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers15 homes97% occupied$531/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $95,250/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $29K/yr

50%

Very low income$29K–$48K/yr

36%

Low income$48K–$76K/yr

14%

Who Receives This Housing

86% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

7% of subsidized households are minority

39% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

36% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

2053.2%

By Region

Top Countries

Guatemala

Mexico

Germany

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

3,125

Avg. Commutei

21.8 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

3,177

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

193(4.3% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.8%Insured

4.2%Uninsured