State rank#8 of 99
Smallest county100,466 residentsPolk County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 19169
Story County, Iowa
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population100,466
Household income$69,685
Unemployment2.3%
Life expectancy81.5 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Story County has 100,466 residents and ranks #8 by population among Iowa county equivalents. Median household income is $69,685. The annual-average unemployment rate is 2.3%. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Iowa
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Story County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Story County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $258,700 median home value and $1,018/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $69,685, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Story County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, unemployment rate, and life expectancy. College attainment is 54.8% and life expectancy is 81.5 years.
Potential advantages
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 54.8%, rank #2 of 99 available Iowa counties.
- Unemployment rate: 2.3%, rank #6 of 99 available Iowa counties.
- Life expectancy: 81.5 years, rank #6 of 99 available Iowa counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,018/mo, rank #94 of 99; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $258,700, rank #93 of 99; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median household income: $69,685, rank #56 of 99; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Iowa
Rank and range use only counties in Iowa with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$69,685
$69,685; below the state county median of $71,223.
State rank #56 of 99 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$258,700
$258,700; above the state county median of $160,600.
State rank #93 of 99 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,018/mo
$1,018/mo; above the state county median of $820/mo.
State rank #94 of 99 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
2.3%
2.3%; below the state county median of 2.9%.
State rank #6 of 99 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
54.8%
54.8%; above the state county median of 22.3%.
State rank #2 of 99 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
81.5 years
81.5 years; above the state county median of 77.6 years.
State rank #6 of 99 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
13.4%
13.4%; below the state county median of 15.8%.
State rank #8 of 99 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
4.6%
4.6%; below the state county median of 5.6%.
State rank #18 of 99 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,554 residents
1 per 1,554 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,956 residents.
State rank #28 of 99 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 378 residents
1 per 378 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,126 residents.
State rank #11 of 95 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Story County FAQ
Is Story County a good place to live?
Story County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, unemployment rate, and life expectancy. College attainment is 54.8% and life expectancy is 81.5 years.
What should I know before moving to Story County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $258,700 median home value and $1,018/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $69,685, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Story County?
Story County has 100,466 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Story County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 19169; the parent state FIPS is 19.
What is the median household income in Story County?
The ACS median household income is $69,685.
How much does housing cost in Story County?
Housing benchmarks are $258,700 median home value and $1,018/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $69,685, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Story County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 2.3%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
#6Dallas County107,968
#7Woodbury County106,247
#9Dubuque County99,030
#10Pottawattamie County93,424
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
Continue exploring