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.

Van Meter, IA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

1,628

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

White

97.3%1,584

Two or More

2.3%38

Hispanic/Latino

0.4%6

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

2.2%22

High School Diploma

20.9%208

Some College (<1 yr)

6.2%62

Some College (1+ yr)

9.6%96

Associate's Degree

15.4%153

Bachelor's Degree

32.1%320

Master's Degree

9%90

Professional Degree

1.8%18

Doctorate

0.4%4

HS or Higher

97.7%

BA or Higher

43.4%

Graduate+

11.2%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$264,000

Median Renti

$1,063

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

92.6%460

Renter-Occupied

7.4%37

Total Units

502

Homeownership

92.6%

Vacancy Rate

Home Values

Under $50K

3%14

$50K–$100K

0.7%3

$100K–$150K

5.7%26

$150K–$200K

15.7%72

$200K–$300K

38.5%177

$300K–$500K

25%115

$500K–$1M

10.9%50

$1M+

0.7%3

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

$1,000–$1,250

$1,250–$1,500

$1,500–$2,000

Year Built

2020 or later

0.6%3

2010–2019

23.1%116

2000–2009

15.7%79

1990–1999

10.4%52

1980–1989

4.8%24

1970–1979

14.9%75

1960–1969

12.4%62

1950–1959

4.4%22

1939 or earlier

13.7%69

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

71.8%357

Electricity

20.1%100

Bottled/LP Gas

6.8%34

Other

1.2%6

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$135,139

Mean Household Incomei

$157,780

Per Capita Incomei

$49,204

Poverty Ratei

2.6%

Unemploymenti

1.9%

Labor Forcei

876

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

1.8%9

$10K–$15K

0.6%3

$15K–$20K

2.4%12

$20K–$25K

0.4%2

$25K–$30K

0.6%3

$35K–$40K

1.8%9

$40K–$45K

1.2%6

$50K–$60K

6.4%32

$60K–$75K

5.6%28

$75K–$100K

9.7%48

$100K–$125K

14.7%73

$125K–$150K

9.3%46

$150K–$200K

27.6%137

$200K+

17.9%89

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

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers1 homes

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

Ancestry & Heritage

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

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

201.2%

By Region

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

839

Avg. Commutei

22 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

859

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

54(5% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

93.4%Insured

6.6%Uninsured