Dubuque, IA Local Data & Statistics

State: IA

Total population: 59,174 Household income: $65,845 Rent: $948

Overview

Total population

59,174

Rent

$948

Year built

1963

Household income

$65,845

Per capita income

$38,244

Poverty rate

12.7%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

45.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Iowa

Total population

59,174

Adults over 25

40,136

Total households

26,131

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$65,845

Per capita income

$38,244

Poverty rate

12.7%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Rent over 30% of income

45.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$948

Year built

1963

Households that rent

34.2%

Households that own

65.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

85.9%

Black

4.2%

Asian

1.6%

Two or more races

5.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

Not Hispanic or Latino

97%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

88.3%

Commute time to work

15 mins

Work from home

11.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

24.5%

High school graduate or GED

31%

Some college or associate degree

10.5%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

34%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Dubuque, IA with: Iowa United States

Dubuque, IA

Total population59,174

Rent$948

Year built1963

Household income$65,845

Per capita income$38,244

Poverty rate12.7%

Unemployment rate3.4%

Iowa State

Total population3,210,507

Rent$972

Year built1972

Household income$75,059

Per capita income$40,877

Poverty rate11.1%

Unemployment rate3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityDubuque, IA	StateIowa	CountryUnited States
Total population	59,174	3,210,507	334,922,499
Rent	$948	$972	$1,413
Year built	1963	1972	1980
Household income	$65,845	$75,059	$80,734
Per capita income	$38,244	$40,877	$44,673
Poverty rate	12.7%	11.1%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.4%	3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Dubuque, IA, Iowa and United States →

Summary for Dubuque, IA

Dubuque is located in Iowa.

Rent & Income

In Dubuque, the typical monthly rent is $948 and the typical household income is $65,845. Rent here is similar to Iowa and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Iowa and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 12.7%, which is higher than the Iowa rate and similar to the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 34.2% of households. About 45.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 34% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.4%, which is higher than Iowa and lower than the national rate.

Dubuque, IA — Rent vs Household Income

Dubuque, IA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Dubuque, IA compares in Iowa (11 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$948	2 / 11	from lower rent	$923 – $1,319
Household income	$65,845	7 / 11	from higher income	$57,480 – $108,198
Poverty rate	12.7%	4 / 11	from lower poverty	4.2% – 26.3%
Unemployment rate	3.4%	8 / 11	from lower unemployment	2% – 4.7%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Iowa with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Dubuque, IA

Rent

Rent prices put Dubuque in 2nd place among 11 large communities in Iowa. Across Iowa, rents range from $923 in Waterloo, IA up to $1,319 in Ankeny, IA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Dubuque comes in 7th among 11 major places. Across Iowa, income levels vary from $57,480 in Waterloo, IA to $108,198 in Ankeny, IA.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Dubuque is ranked 4th among 11 major areas. Across Iowa, poverty runs from 4.2% in Ankeny, IA to 26.3% in Iowa City, IA.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Dubuque in 8th place among 11 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 2% in Ames, IA to 4.7% in Waterloo, IA.

💰 Rent in Dubuque, IA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $948 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Dubuque, IA

Annual Household Income: $65,845

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Dubuque, IA

Estimated Rate: 12.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Dubuque, IA

In Dubuque, IA, households that rent: 8,928 (34.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	8,928	34.2%
Owner-Occupied	17,203	65.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Dubuque, IA

In Dubuque, IA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,063 (45.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,063	45.5%
Other renter households	4,865	54.5%
Total renter households	8,928	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Dubuque, IA

Less than High School: 9,850 people (24.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 12,431 people (31%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,205 people (10.5%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 13,650 people (34%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 40,136

📊 Unemployment Rate in Dubuque, IA

Estimated Rate: 3.4%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Shoreline, WA59,280 Medford, MA59,062 Petaluma, CA59,321 Taylorsville, UT59,010 Wylie, TX58,991 Kokomo, IN59,375 Hanford, CA59,389 Des Plaines, IL59,408 Blue Springs, MO59,416 North Miami, FL59,429

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.