Buena Vista County, IA

County in Iowa, Midwest · ranked on 43 metrics

Rank among US counties

Buena Vista County, IA is a county in Iowa with a population of 20,243 (1,792nd of 3,094). It ranks best for Average Commute (Minutes) (88th of 3,094), Poverty Rate (%) (330th of 3,094), Unemployment Rate (%) (tied 372nd of 3,094). It ranks lowest for Adults with Obesity (%) (tied 1,654th of 2,916).

Population
20,243
1,792nd highest of 3,094
Density
35.2
1,772nd highest of 3,094
Growth since 2020
-2.68%
2,508th highest of 3,094
Area
575
1,698th highest of 3,094
Region
Midwest
Iowa

At a glance

Median household income
$71,719
1,062nd highest of 3,093
Median home value
$159,500
1,997th highest of 3,092
Median rent
$894
1,452nd highest of 3,090
Unemployment
3%
2,640th highest of 3,094
Poverty rate
7.79%
2,765th highest of 3,094
College degree
22.2%
1,541st highest of 3,094
Adult obesity
38.9%
1,228th highest of 2,916
No health insurance
13.2%
747th highest of 2,916
Average commute
14 minutes
3,007th highest of 3,094
Home broadband
92.1%
421st highest of 3,094
Climate
46.8°F average
17°F in January, 73°F in July
2024 presidential vote
Republican +33.3
66.0% Republican, 32.8% Democratic

Strengths and weak spotsPercentileWhere a place sits among all places, from 0 to 100. 100 is the best, 50 is the middle, 0 is the worst.More in the glossary →

Percentile on 21 metrics that rank at least half of all US counties, given whether higher or lower is better.

Totals that track populationCounts like “number of burglaries” that mostly reflect how many people live somewhere, so big places rank high or low regardless.More in the glossary →

Best at

Highest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Average Commute (Minutes)14.0
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    88th of 3,094
  2. Adults with Depression (%)18.3%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 120th of 2,916
  3. Poverty Rate (%)7.79%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    330th of 3,094
  4. Unemployment Rate (%)3%
    Unemployment Rate by County (BLS) · 2025
    tied 372nd of 3,094
  5. Homes with Broadband Internet (%)92.1%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    421st of 3,094
  6. Adults with Frequent Mental Distress (%)16.9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 537th of 2,916
  7. Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)34.9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2022
    tied 898th of 3,094
  8. Cooling Degree Days per Year742
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    tied 951st of 3,050
  9. Median Household Income$71,719
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    1,062nd of 3,093
  10. Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)$159,500
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    tied 1,093rd of 3,092

Worst at

Lowest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Heating Degree Days per Year7,338
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    2,540th of 3,050
  2. Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%)13.2%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,148th of 2,916
  3. Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%)29.7%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,051st of 2,916
  4. Adults Who Binge Drink (%)18.8%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,989th of 2,916
  5. Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)22.1%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,911th of 2,916
  6. Adults with Diabetes (%)11.7%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,892nd of 2,916
  7. Adults with Obesity (%)38.9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,654th of 2,916
  8. Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)$894
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    tied 1,634th of 3,090
  9. Adults Who Smoke (%)16.2%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,484th of 2,916
  10. Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)75.4%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,433rd of 2,916

Profile by category

Average percentile per category, from the median line. Select a category to list its metrics.

Strongest category Economics (73), weakest Health (49). Select a category to list its metrics.

Notable facts

Where it ranks first or last among US counties

Never first or last on a widely ranked metric.

Where it is

Shaded by population; select a place to open it

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Similar places

Closest percentiles on 16 widely reported measures from 7 categories, leaving out size and totals

  1. Box Butte County, NE83% similar
    Compared on 12 of 16
  2. Freeborn County, MN81% similar
    Compared on 14 of 16
  3. Dakota County, NE81% similar
    Compared on 15 of 16
  4. Rock County, MN81% similar
    Compared on 13 of 16
  5. Brule County, SD81% similar
    Compared on 15 of 16

Quick answers

What is the population of Buena Vista County, IA?
Buena Vista County, IA has a population of 20,243, 1,792nd among 3,094 US counties.
What does Buena Vista County, IA rank best at?
Among US counties, Buena Vista County, IA ranks best for Average Commute (Minutes) (88th of 3,094); Poverty Rate (%) (330th of 3,094); Unemployment Rate (%) (tied 372nd of 3,094).
Where does Buena Vista County, IA rank worst?
Buena Vista County, IA ranks lowest for Adults with Obesity (%) (tied 1,654th of 2,916).
How many statistics does Rankodex have for Buena Vista County, IA?
Rankodex ranks Buena Vista County, IA on 43 statistics compared with other US counties, compiled from World Population Review and the sources it cites.

Every metric

43 metrics with a value for this place, in 11 topics