Population
20,449
2025
−1.7% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Buena Vista County, IA: population growth, jobs and income
Buena Vista County lost 206 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−1.0%).
Buena Vista County had an estimated 20,449 residents in 2025, down 1.7% (351 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Iowa as a whole (+1.5%), and the 68th fastest growth of 99 counties in Iowa.
Data as of 2025 · updated
14-day full refund · Stripe, Apple Pay or Google Pay · Instant PDF + CSV · Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
How we compute every number · Refund terms
In the Buena Vista County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Buena Vista County, ranked against Iowa and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$894/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes9.0%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months212025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−395
2025
−19.3 per 1,000 residents
−1,662 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
3.0%
2025
+0.8 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
16
2025
0.8 per 1,000 residents
Small base: the change swings on a few homes or people, so we don't show it.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$71,719
2020–24
+32.8% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
8,855
2023
−0.9% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 395 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 8,855 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −0.9% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.0% in 2025, 0.8 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 16 new homes in 2025, or 0.8 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $71,719 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +32.8% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,392nd.
Part of the Storm Lake, IA micro area.
Get Buena Vista County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Buena Vista County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Buena Vista County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20,449 | −206 |
| 2024 | 20,655 | −23 |
| 2023 | 20,678 | +34 |
| 2022 | 20,644 | −150 |
| 2021 | 20,794 | −6 |
| 2020 | 20,800 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Buena Vista County
Buena Vista County lost 351 people since 2020; the biggest drag was domestic migration (−1,662).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +111 | +559 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +83 | +730 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −395 | −1,662 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −5 | +22 | |
| Total change | −206 | −351 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Iowa | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 68th of 99 | 2,392nd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 99th of 99 | 3,057th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 53rd of 99 | 2,012th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 44th of 99 | 1,058th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 28th of 99 | 391st of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 75th of 99 | 2,228th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Buena Vista County, IA as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Clay County and O'Brien County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the Buena Vista County report (free, PDF) · See a full 5-page sample (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Buena Vista County's population change (−1.7%) was ahead of 5 of its 8 neighbouring counties and behind 3.
2 of its 8 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Buena Vista County's $71,719 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista County, IA This county | 20,449 | −1.7% | −19.3 | 0.8 | $71,719 |
| Clay County, IA | 16,202 | −0.9% | −18.0 | 3.8 | $65,428 |
| Sac County, IA | 9,525 | −2.7% | −9.3 | 1.5 | $73,838 |
| Pocahontas County, IA | 6,819 | −3.6% | −10.9 | 0.0 | $61,875 |
| Cherokee County, IA | 11,369 | −2.4% | −7.2 | 4.9 | $71,269 |
| Ida County, IA | 6,777 | −3.4% | 4.9 | 0.3 | $63,073 |
| Palo Alto County, IA | 8,899 | −1.0% | 1.7 | 0.7 | $72,781 |
| O'Brien County, IA | 14,220 | +0.5% | 0.6 | 1.3 | $68,356 |
| Calhoun County, IA | 9,562 | −3.4% | −2.5 | 1.4 | $64,964 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Buena Vista County growing?
No. Its population fell 1.7% between 2020 and 2025, about 351 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Iowa as a whole changed +1.5% over the same years. That ranks 68th of 99 counties in Iowa for population growth.
How many people moved to Buena Vista County?
On net, none in 2025: about 395 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Buena Vista County?
It averaged 3.0% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Buena Vista County?
About 20,449 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Buena Vista County?
Private employers there had 8,855 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −0.9% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Iowa
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Iowa county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Buena Vista County data alerts
Email me when Buena Vista County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.