Cerro Gordo County

As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa had a population of 43,127. The racial composition was 91.5% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% Native American, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.3%. The median age was 43.3 years, with 21.1% under 18, and 20.4% 65 or older. The median household income was $53,743, and the poverty rate stood at 10.1%. The county seat is Mason City.

Cerro Gordo County, IA, has a median home value of approximately $123,000. The housing market features a range of property types, with about 73% owner-occupied units and 27% rentals. The median rent is around $700 per month. The county has seen a modest annual appreciation rate, averaging around 2-3% over the past few years. Housing inventory includes single-family homes, apartments, and townhouses, catering to diverse preferences and budgets.

Cerro Gordo County, IA, holds elections for various federal, state, and local offices. As of the latest elections, the voter turnout was typically around 60-70%. The Board of Supervisors, comprising five members, is a key local body. Key 2023 candidates include:

• Board of Supervisors:
  • Chad Schreck (R)
  • Casey Callanan (R, incumbent)
• County Sheriff:
  • Kevin Pals (R, incumbent)

Municipal elections see mayors and council members up for election in cities like Mason City:

• Mayor of Mason City:
  • Bill Schickel (R, incumbent)
  • Will Symonds (D)

For state legislature:

• House District 51:
  • Jane Bloomingdale (R, incumbent)
  • Sarah Smith (D)

Residents vote at designated polls within precincts, and absentee voting is available. For comprehensive details, visit the Cerro Gordo County Elections website.

Cerro Gordo County, IA, shows educational attainment levels that are slightly below national and state averages. According to the latest census data, around 91.0% of residents aged 25 and older have at least a high school diploma, compared to the national average of about 88.0% and the Iowa state average of approximately 92.1%. In terms of higher education, about 20.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher, lower than the national average of around 33.1% and the Iowa state average of 27.5%. This indicates that while high school completion rates are comparable, Cerro Gordo County has room for improvement in higher education attainment compared to broader benchmarks.

Cerro Gordo County, IA has a diverse employment landscape. As of the latest data, the total employment in the county is approximately 24,000 people. The top industries include manufacturing, healthcare & social assistance, retail trade, and educational services. Manufacturing employs around 20% of the workforce, healthcare and social assistance about 18%, retail trade 11%, and educational services 9%.

Comparatively, at the national level, manufacturing employs about 8.5% of the workforce, and healthcare and social assistance employ around 14%. Iowa's averages for these industries are roughly 14% for manufacturing and 17% for healthcare. Thus, Cerro Gordo County has a significantly higher concentration in manufacturing compared to both state and national levels, while healthcare employment aligns closely with state averages but exceeds national rates.

As of the most recent data, Cerro Gordo County, IA has a median household income of approximately $55,000. This compares to the national median household income which is around $68,700, and the Iowa state median household income which is approximately $61,600. The per capita income for Cerro Gordo County is about $29,000. In contrast, the U.S. per capita income is roughly $35,000, and Iowa's is $32,000.

Overall, Cerro Gordo County's income levels are slightly below both the state and national averages.

As of the latest available data, Cerro Gordo County, IA has a mixed crime rate, varying across different crime types. The overall crime rate for the county is approximately 23.2 per 1,000 residents annually. Below is a concise table of the reported crime statistics:

These numbers provide a snapshot of crime in Cerro Gordo County, illustrating the predominance of property crime over violent crime in the area.