Marshall County, Iowa


Marshall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,105, and was estimated to be 40,392 in 2024. The county seat and largest city is Marshalltown. The county was formed on January 13, 1846, and named after John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Marshall County comprises the Marshalltown, Iowa Micropolitan Statistical Area. In 2010, the center of population of Iowa was located in Marshall County, near Melbourne.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the 43rd largest county in Iowa by total area.

Transit

Housing market

As of the second quarter of 2025, the median home value in Marshall County was $150,876.

American Community Survey

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, households averaged 2.48 persons per household. The county's median household income was $72,785, approximately 11.1% of residents lived at or below the poverty line, the estimated employment rate was 63.9%, 21.4% of residents held a bachelor's degree or higher, and 87.0% had at least a high school diploma.

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 40,105 people, 15,358 households, and 10,161 families residing in the county. The median age was 39.2 years, 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18, and 19.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 101.6 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 73.8% White, 2.0% Black or African American, 0.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 10.3% from some other race, and 9.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 22.8% of the population.
68.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 31.7% lived in rural areas.
There were 15,358 households in the county, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.3% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 16,745 housing units at an average density of ; 8.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.3% were owner-occupied and 27.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 40,648 people, 15,538 households, and _ families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 16,831 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 88.74% White, 1.67% African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 5.65% from some other races and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 17.26% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 39,311 people, 15,338 households, and 10,460 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 16,324 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 90.44% White, 0.93% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 6.03% from some other races and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.96% of the population.
There were 15,338 households 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 26.90% of households were one person and 12.20% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.
The age distribution was 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 26.30% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.
The median household income was $38,268 and the median family income was $46,627. Males had a median income of $33,809 versus $24,063 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,176. About 7.10% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.30% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Marshall County.
† county seat
RankCity/Town/etc.Municipal typePopulation Population
1† 'MarshalltownCity27,59127,886
2State CenterCity1,3911,403
3Le Grand City905891
4MelbourneCity786771
5GilmanCity542530
6AlbionCity448444
7LiscombCity291292
8RhodesCity271269
9LaurelCity220214
10HaverhillCity165164
11ClemonsCity140135
12Green MountainCDP113105
13FergusonCity9798
14St. Anthony'City7677

Politics

Prior to 1964, Marshall County was strongly Republican, never backing a Democratic presidential candidate from 1880 to 1960 and only failing to back a Republican candidate during those years in 1912 with a strong third-party campaign by former president Theodore Roosevelt on the Bull Moose ticket. Since then, it has become far more of a swing county, having backed the national winner in the seven presidential elections from 1992 to 2016. That streak was broken in 2020, when Donald Trump won the county but lost nationally. The county is considered a bellwether counties in the United States|bellwether] polity.