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.

Grimes, IA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

16,366

Median Agei

35.4

Race & Ethnicityi

White

81.6%13,353

Black

6.2%1,011

Hispanic/Latino

5.3%864

Asian

4.6%759

Two or More

2.3%374

Other

0%3

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%2

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

1.9%196

High School Diploma

21%2,197

Some College (<1 yr)

4.8%501

Some College (1+ yr)

12.7%1,321

Associate's Degree

7.4%774

Bachelor's Degree

32.9%3,440

Master's Degree

13.6%1,420

Professional Degree

2.3%236

Doctorate

2.7%283

HS or Higher

99.3%

BA or Higher

51.5%

Graduate+

18.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$304,700

Median Renti

$1,251

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

70.9%4,335

Renter-Occupied

29.1%1,782

Total Units

6,224

Homeownership

70.9%

Vacancy Rate

1.7%

Home Values

Under $50K

7.3%318

$50K–$100K

1.5%66

$100K–$150K

5.6%242

$150K–$200K

3.9%169

$200K–$300K

30.4%1,318

$300K–$500K

39.9%1,728

$500K–$1M

11.4%494

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

$750–$1,000

437

$1,000–$1,250

332

$1,250–$1,500

384

$1,500–$2,000

384

$2,000+

103

Year Built

2020 or later

7.8%487

2010–2019

40.2%2,500

2000–2009

18.1%1,126

1990–1999

15.7%975

1980–1989

2.4%150

1970–1979

9%558

1960–1969

1.4%90

1950–1959

1.1%66

1940–1949

1.7%106

1939 or earlier

2.7%166

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

81.2%4,966

Electricity

17%1,041

No Fuel

1.3%82

Bottled/LP Gas

0.5%28

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$120,037

Mean Household Incomei

$127,689

Per Capita Incomei

$48,382

Poverty Ratei

4.4%

Unemploymenti

1.9%

Labor Forcei

9,884

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

1.4%84

$10K–$15K

0.5%31

$15K–$20K

0.5%32

$20K–$25K

2.3%142

$25K–$30K

1.7%104

$30K–$35K

5.6%341

$35K–$40K

2.9%177

$40K–$45K

1.6%99

$45K–$50K

1.9%115

$50K–$60K

6.5%400

$60K–$75K

5.6%344

$75K–$100K

9.8%601

$100K–$125K

12.5%767

$125K–$150K

12.8%785

$150K–$200K

22.9%1,400

$200K+

11.4%695

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

140

Avg. Tenant Renti

$483/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

32 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers80 homes75% occupied$483/mo rent

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

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $120,037/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $36K/yr

86%

Very low income$36K–$60K/yr

14%

Who Receives This Housing

91% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

39% of subsidized households are minority

26% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

31% 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

1,71610.5%

By Region

Top Countries

India

497

Mexico

130

China

Canada

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

9,660

Avg. Commutei

19.6 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

9,692

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

511(4.3% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

96.8%Insured

3.2%Uninsured