Palo Alto County, IA

County in Iowa, Midwest · ranked on 42 metrics

Rank among US counties

Palo Alto County, IA is a county in Iowa with a population of 8,906 (2,463rd of 3,094). It ranks best for Unemployment Rate (%) (tied 180th of 3,094), Average Commute (Minutes) (306th of 3,094), Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (552nd of 3,092). It ranks lowest for Adults with Obesity (%) (tied 2,169th of 2,916), Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (2,077th of 3,094).

Population
8,906
2,463rd highest of 3,094
Density
15.8
2,335th highest of 3,094
Growth since 2020
-0.93%
2,113th highest of 3,094
Area
564
1,793rd highest of 3,094
Region
Midwest
Iowa

At a glance

Median household income
$72,781
986th highest of 3,093
Median home value
$123,200
2,541st highest of 3,092
Median rent
$638
2,917th highest of 3,090
Unemployment
2.7%
2,872nd highest of 3,094
Poverty rate
11.6%
1,942nd highest of 3,094
College degree
19.0%
2,077th highest of 3,094
Adult obesity
40.6%
724th highest of 2,916
No health insurance
7.3%
2,658th highest of 2,916
Average commute
17 minutes
2,789th highest of 3,094
Home broadband
89.8%
873rd highest of 3,094
Climate
46.3°F average
16°F in January, 72°F in July
2024 presidential vote
Republican +45.0
71.9% Republican, 26.9% 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 22 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. Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)$638
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    tied 169th of 3,090
  2. Unemployment Rate (%)2.7%
    Unemployment Rate by County (BLS) · 2025
    tied 180th of 3,094
  3. Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%)7.3%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 232nd of 2,916
  4. Average Commute (Minutes)17.2
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    306th of 3,094
  5. Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)$123,200
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    552nd of 3,092
  6. Adults Sleeping Under 7 Hours (%)33.7%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2022
    tied 624th of 3,094
  7. Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)16.7%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 585th of 2,916
  8. Adults with Depression (%)21.5%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 646th of 2,916
  9. Adults with Diabetes (%)9.4%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 638th of 2,916
  10. Homes with Broadband Internet (%)89.8%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    873rd of 3,094

Worst at

Lowest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Adults Who Binge Drink (%)23.1%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,840th of 2,916
  2. Heating Degree Days per Year7,481
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    2,580th of 3,050
  3. Adults with Obesity (%)40.6%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,169th of 2,916
  4. Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)19.0%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    2,077th of 3,094
  5. Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)75.1%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,573rd of 2,916
  6. Median Income$72,781
    Poorest Counties
    986th of 2,000
  7. Adults Who Smoke (%)15.9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,360th of 2,916
  8. Poverty Rate (%)11.6%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    1,153rd of 3,094
  9. Median Household Income$72,781
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    986th of 3,093
  10. Cooling Degree Days per Year713
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    905th of 3,050

Profile by category

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

Strongest category Economics (72), weakest Health (61). 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 6 categories, leaving out size and totals

  1. Stutsman County, ND92% similar
    Compared on 13 of 16
  2. Ida County, IA91% similar
    Compared on 13 of 16
  3. Dickey County, ND91% similar
    Compared on 13 of 16
  4. Shelby County, IA91% similar
    Compared on 14 of 16
  5. Humboldt County, IA91% similar
    Compared on 13 of 16

Quick answers

What is the population of Palo Alto County, IA?
Palo Alto County, IA has a population of 8,906, 2,463rd among 3,094 US counties.
What does Palo Alto County, IA rank best at?
Among US counties, Palo Alto County, IA ranks best for Unemployment Rate (%) (tied 180th of 3,094); Average Commute (Minutes) (306th of 3,094); Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (552nd of 3,092).
Where does Palo Alto County, IA rank worst?
Palo Alto County, IA ranks lowest for Adults with Obesity (%) (tied 2,169th of 2,916); Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+) (2,077th of 3,094).
How many statistics does Rankodex have for Palo Alto County, IA?
Rankodex ranks Palo Alto County, IA on 42 statistics compared with other US counties, compiled from World Population Review and the sources it cites.

Every metric

42 metrics with a value for this place, in 12 topics