Population
101,291
2025
+2.7% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Story County, IA: population growth, jobs and income
Story County lost 127 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.1%).
Story County had an estimated 101,291 residents in 2025, up 2.7% (2,633 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Iowa as a whole (+1.5%), and the 9th 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 Story County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Story County, ranked against Iowa and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,018/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes7.1%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months2432025-10/2026-09
- 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
−792
2025
−7.8 per 1,000 residents
−1,018 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
2.9%
2025
+0.9 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
185
2025
−44.1% since 2021
1.8 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$69,685
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
33,500
2023
+6.0% 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: 792 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 33,500 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +6.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 2.9% in 2025, 0.9 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 185 new homes in 2025, or 1.8 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $69,685 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 1,086th.
Part of the Ames, IA metro area.
Get Story County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Story County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Story County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 101,291 | −127 |
| 2024 | 101,418 | +397 |
| 2023 | 101,021 | +1,164 |
| 2022 | 99,857 | +182 |
| 2021 | 99,675 | +1,017 |
| 2020 | 98,658 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Story County
Story County grew by 2,633 people since 2020 even though 1,018 more residents moved to other U.S. counties than came from them: births outnumbered deaths by 908, and net international migration added 2,699.
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +169 | +908 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +494 | +2,699 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −792 | −1,018 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +2 | +44 | |
| Total change | −127 | +2,633 |
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 | 9th of 99 | 1,086th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 86th of 99 | 2,768th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 24th of 99 | 1,092nd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 56th of 99 | 1,209th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 26th of 99 | 315th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 42nd of 99 | 1,618th 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 Story 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 Polk County and Marshall County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the Story 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, Story County's population change (+2.7%) was ahead of 5 of its 6 neighbouring counties and behind 1 (Polk County).
5 of its 6 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Story County's $69,685 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story County, IA This county | 101,291 | +2.7% | −7.8 | 1.8 | $69,685 |
| Polk County, IA | 516,546 | +4.8% | −1.2 | 9.2 | $83,576 |
| Hardin County, IA | 16,455 | −2.2% | 3.1 | 1.1 | $65,069 |
| Hamilton County, IA | 14,944 | −0.5% | −6.4 | 0.8 | $72,432 |
| Marshall County, IA | 39,890 | −0.5% | −8.2 | 0.8 | $73,315 |
| Boone County, IA | 26,799 | +0.4% | 5.5 | 7.7 | $83,531 |
| Jasper County, IA | 38,153 | +0.9% | −2.5 | 2.1 | $71,311 |
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 Story County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 2.7% between 2020 and 2025, about 2,633 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Iowa as a whole changed +1.5% over the same years. That ranks 9th of 99 counties in Iowa for population growth.
How many people moved to Story County?
On net, none in 2025: about 792 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Story County?
It averaged 2.9% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Story County?
About 101,291 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Story County?
Private employers there had 33,500 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +6.0% 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.
Story County data alerts
Email me when Story 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.