Population
14,220
2025
+0.5% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
O'Brien County, IA: population growth, jobs and income
O'Brien County gained 32 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.2%).
O'Brien County had an estimated 14,220 residents in 2025, up 0.5% (64 more people) since 2020. That is slower than Iowa as a whole (+1.5%), and the 27th fastest growth of 99 counties in Iowa.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the O'Brien County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for O'Brien County, ranked against Iowa and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$868/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes11.5%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months132025-10/2026-09
- 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
+9
2025
0.6 per 1,000 residents
−80 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
2.7%
2025
+0.4 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
18
2025
1.3 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
$68,356
2020–24
+19.5% 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
5,332
2023
+1.3% 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 added 9 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 5,332 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +1.3% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 2.7% in 2025, 0.4 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 18 new homes in 2025, or 1.3 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $68,356 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +19.5% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,725th.
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O'Brien County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14,220 | +32 |
| 2024 | 14,188 | +136 |
| 2023 | 14,052 | −43 |
| 2022 | 14,095 | +43 |
| 2021 | 14,052 | −104 |
| 2020 | 14,156 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in O'Brien County
O'Brien County grew by 64 people since 2020 even though 80 more residents moved to other U.S. counties than came from them: deaths outnumbered births by 87, and net international migration added 233.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −21 | −87 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +44 | +233 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +9 | −80 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +0 | −2 | |
| Total change | +32 | +64 |
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 | 27th of 99 | 1,725th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 41st of 99 | 1,803rd of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 39th of 99 | 1,683rd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 62nd of 99 | 1,299th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 11th of 99 | 192nd of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 62nd of 99 | 1,926th 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 O'Brien 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.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, O'Brien County's population change (+0.5%) was ahead of 5 of its 8 neighbouring counties and behind 3.
7 of its 8 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than O'Brien County's $68,356 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Brien County, IA This county | 14,220 | +0.5% | 0.6 | 1.3 | $68,356 |
| Osceola County, IA | 5,980 | −3.6% | −2.7 | 0.5 | $69,239 |
| Cherokee County, IA | 11,369 | −2.4% | −7.2 | 4.9 | $71,269 |
| Clay County, IA | 16,202 | −0.9% | −18.0 | 3.8 | $65,428 |
| Sioux County, IA | 36,774 | +2.5% | −6.1 | 9.8 | $86,098 |
| Dickinson County, IA | 18,077 | +1.7% | 6.0 | 6.5 | $75,432 |
| Buena Vista County, IA | 20,449 | −1.7% | −19.3 | 0.8 | $71,719 |
| Lyon County, IA | 12,354 | +3.6% | −4.1 | 3.3 | $76,746 |
| Plymouth County, IA | 25,697 | +0.0% | 0.3 | 1.8 | $83,251 |
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 O'Brien County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 0.5% between 2020 and 2025, about 64 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Iowa as a whole changed +1.5% over the same years. That ranks 27th of 99 counties in Iowa for population growth.
How many people moved to O'Brien County?
On net, about 9 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in O'Brien County?
It averaged 2.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of O'Brien County?
About 14,220 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in O'Brien County?
Private employers there had 5,332 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +1.3% 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.
O'Brien County data alerts
Email me when O'Brien 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.