What percentage of people rent in Decorah, IA?

Name: Renters and owners in Decorah, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

38.5% (±5.5 points) of the occupied homes in Decorah, IA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 1,169 renting households against 1,869 that own their home.

In Decorah, the share of households that rent went from 29.3% in 2015–2019 to 38.5% in 2020–2024 (+9.2 percentage points), a measurable increase.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 38.5% (±5.5 points)
Renting households: 1,169 (±190)
Median renter income: $36,381 (±$4,082)

Who rents and who owns in Decorah

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Decorah	Winneshiek County	Iowa	United States
Renter-occupied share	38.5% (±5.5 points)	25.8% (±2.5 points)	28.3% (±0.3 points)	34.8%
Renting households	1,169 (±190)	2,100 (±228)	372,311 (±3,635)	45,017,354
Owning households	1,869 (±180)	6,039 (±213)	943,396 (±5,414)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	1.6 (±0.2)	1.8 (±0.2)	2.0 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.1 (±0.1)	2.4 (±0.1)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$36,381 (±$4,082)	$43,780 (±$7,193)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$82,716 (±$7,572)	$92,108 (±$5,600)	$91,638 (±$512)	$100,009

In Decorah, the renter share is higher than in Winneshiek County (25.8%).

It is also higher than in Iowa (28.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (34.8%).

In Winneshiek County, Decorah ranks 2 of 8 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 48 of 943.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in Decorah has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	29.3% (±4.4 points)	38.5% (±5.5 points)	+9.2 percentage points	Measurable increase
Median gross rent	$634 (±$31)	$853 (±$65)	+34.5%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$62,336 (±$8,545)	$64,366 (±$4,690)	+3.3%	Down after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Decorah

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Decorah
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Decorah	—	38.5% (±5.5 points)	—
Calmar	9.3 mi	26.9% (±9.7 points)	Lower
Ridgeway	10 mi	50.4% (±16.1 points)	Not measurably different
Ossian	11 mi	19.9% (±8.8 points)	Lower
Spillville	11 mi	35.0% (±11.6 points)	Not measurably different
Fort Atkinson	13 mi	13.0% (±7.6 points)	Lower
Castalia	14 mi	6.9% (±6.9 points)	Lower
Mabel	15 mi	13.3% (±4.6 points)	Lower
Protivin	16 mi	14.6% (±9.5 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Calmar, IA (26.9%), Ossian, IA (19.9%), Fort Atkinson, IA (13.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Winneshiek County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Ridgeway	50.4% (±16.1 points)
2	Decorah	38.5% (±5.5 points)
3	Spillville	35.0% (±11.6 points)
4	Calmar	26.9% (±9.7 points)
5	Ossian	19.9% (±8.8 points)
6	Fort Atkinson	13.0% (±7.6 points)
7	Castalia	6.9% (±6.9 points)
8	Jackson Junction	0.0% (±72.1 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Decorah

How many renters are there in Decorah?

Decorah has an estimated 1,169 (±190) renting households, 38.5% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Decorah?

In Decorah, the share of households that rent went from 29.3% in 2015–2019 to 38.5% in 2020–2024 (+9.2 percentage points), a measurable increase.

How big are renting households in Decorah?

A renting household in Decorah has 1.6 people on average, against 2.1 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Decorah?

The median renting household in Decorah, IA has an income of $36,381 (±$4,082) a year, against $82,716 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Decorah city, Iowa (place:19405, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.