Harlan

Population: 4,896
Median household income: $54,923
Median home value: $137,500

Located in Shelby County, Iowa, Harlan is a community with a population of 4,896. The median household income of $54,923 is below the Shelby County median ($67,690).

Between 2019 and 2023, Harlan's population grew 1.1% from 4,845 to 4,896, while its median home value rose 16.1% from $118,400 to $137,500.

The median resident is 48.2 years old. The largest age group is 55 to 64, 17.8% of residents.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 4,896
Median age: 48.2 yrs
Median household income: $54,923
Median home value: $137,500
Median gross rent: $856
Housing units: 2,304
Homeownership rate: 68.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21.6%
Unemployment rate: 6.2%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

4,8454,896

Median household income

$52,063$54,923

Median home value

$118,400$137,500

Median gross rent

$595$856

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	4,845	$52,063	$118,400	$595
2020	4,813	$50,379	$110,900	$723
2021	4,912	$50,294	$127,500	$903
2022	4,897	$55,893	$138,100	$1,034
2023	4,896	$54,923	$137,500	$856

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 56.0%

5 to 1714.3%

18 to 247.8%

25 to 349.0%

35 to 4411.1%

45 to 549.3%

55 to 6417.8%

65 to 7411.3%

75 and over13.4%

	Count	Share
Under 5	294	6.0%
5 to 17	700	14.3%
18 to 24	381	7.8%
25 to 34	439	9.0%
35 to 44	544	11.1%
45 to 54	454	9.3%
55 to 64	873	17.8%
65 to 74	555	11.3%
75 and over	656	13.4%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	4,459	91.1%
Black or African American	46	0.9%
American Indian & Alaska Native	1	0.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	25	0.5%
Two or more races	213	4.4%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	152	3.1%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma7.0%

High school graduate36.3%

Some college or associate's35.1%

Bachelor's degree14.4%

Graduate or professional degree7.2%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	245	7.0%
High school graduate	1,278	36.3%
Some college or associate's	1,237	35.1%
Bachelor's degree	508	14.4%
Graduate or professional degree	253	7.2%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 14 min

Drove alone81.1%

Carpooled7.4%

Public transit0.5%

Walked2.6%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home7.8%

Other means0.6%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	1,754	81.1%
Carpooled	159	7.4%
Public transit	10	0.5%
Walked	57	2.6%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	168	7.8%
Other means	14	0.6%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	1,377	69.1%
15 to 29 min	301	15.1%
30 to 44 min	107	5.4%
45 to 59 min	57	2.9%
60+ min	152	7.6%

Households

Average household size: 2.27
Poverty rate: 10.9% (525 of 4,797)

	Count	Share
Family households	1,166	55.1%
Nonfamily households	949	44.9%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1956

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	2,115	91.8%
Vacant	189	8.2%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	1,445	68.3%
Renter-occupied	670	31.7%

1-unit, detached81.2%

1-unit, attached1.4%

2 to 4 units7.3%

5 to 19 units1.0%

20 or more units5.2%

Mobile home & other3.9%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	1,871	81.2%
1-unit, attached	33	1.4%
2 to 4 units	169	7.3%
5 to 19 units	22	1.0%
20 or more units	120	5.2%
Mobile home & other	89	3.9%

Geography

Place GEOID: 1934500
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 4.42 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 41.6495, -95.3268