What percentage of people rent in Elma, IA?

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

31.2% (±11.1 points) of the occupied homes in Elma, IA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 92 renting households against 203 that own their home.

In Elma, the share of households that rent went from 24.1% in 2015–2019 to 31.2% in 2020–2024 (+7.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 31.2% (±11.1 points)
Renting households: 92 (±41)

Who rents and who owns in Elma

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Elma	Howard County	Iowa	United States
Renter-occupied share	31.2% (±11.1 points)	22.6% (±3.5 points)	28.3% (±0.3 points)	34.8%
Renting households	92 (±41)	852 (±155)	372,311 (±3,635)	45,017,354
Owning households	203 (±42)	2,921 (±148)	943,396 (±5,414)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.1 (±0.5)	2.5 (±0.3)	2.0 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.2 (±0.4)	2.5 (±0.1)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	—	$48,750 (±$7,741)	$43,297 (±$758)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$47,375 (±$12,875)	$75,912 (±$8,385)	$91,638 (±$512)	$100,009

In Elma, the renter share is not measurably different from Howard County (22.6%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (28.3%).

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

In Howard County, Elma ranks 2 of 6 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 158 of 943.

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

How renting in Elma 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	24.1% (±9.4 points)	31.2% (±11.1 points)	+7.1 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$575 (±$208)	$689 (±$297)	+19.8%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$48,214 (±$17,055)	$44,375 (±$11,881)	−8.0%	No measurable change 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 Elma

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Elma
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Elma	—	31.2% (±11.1 points)	—
Alta Vista	3.6 mi	31.0% (±51.3 points)	Not measurably different
North Washington	9.0 mi	6.4% (±9.9 points)	Lower
Colwell	9.8 mi	9.5% (±29.2 points)	Not measurably different
Riceville	9.9 mi	32.1% (±10.7 points)	Not measurably different
Bassett	13 mi	2.5% (±10.1 points)	Lower
New Hampton	15 mi	30.0% (±6.6 points)	Not measurably different
Ionia	15 mi	17.9% (±10.8 points)	Not measurably different
McIntire	15 mi	10.7% (±13.2 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: North Washington, IA (6.4%), Bassett, IA (2.5%), McIntire, IA (10.7%).

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

Households that rent across Howard County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Riceville	32.1% (±10.7 points)
2	Elma	31.2% (±11.1 points)
3	Cresco	25.0% (±6.7 points)
4	Chester	21.5% (±13.0 points)
5	Protivin	14.6% (±9.5 points)
6	Lime Springs	12.9% (±8.1 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 Elma

How many renters are there in Elma?

Elma has an estimated 92 (±41) renting households, 31.2% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Elma?

In Elma, the share of households that rent went from 24.1% in 2015–2019 to 31.2% in 2020–2024 (+7.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in Elma?

A renting household in Elma has 2.1 people on average, against 2.2 in an owned 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 Elma city, Iowa (place:25095, 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.