Montrose, Iowa

Population, housing costs, incomes, jobs, commuting and climate in Montrose, compared with Iowa and the U.S. using Census records and their margins of error.

Montrose city · Incorporated city · Census GEOID 1953760 · Iowa directory

Population · July 1, 2025
745 PEP Vintage 2025
Change · 2024 to 2025
+1.6% +12 residents
Household income
$66,250 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$24,792
Home value
$103,500 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$34,039
Monthly gross rent
$625 ACS 2020–2024 · ±$384 · low precision
Median age
42.6 years ACS 2020–2024 · ±5.3
Montrose, Iowa location in the United States Montrose, Iowa
Census 2024 simplified state outlines; 2025 Gazetteer internal points. Alaska and Hawaii use separate insets. Approximate locator; city boundaries are not shown. Map sources.

Montrose is an incorporated city in Lee County, Iowa, part of the Fort Madison, IA micropolitan area. With 745 residents on July 1, 2025, it ranks 349th in Iowa and 11,540th nationally among Census places. Its population grew by 12 (1.6%) in the year to July 2025; since April 2020 it has grown 0.4%. Median gross rent in the 2020–2024 survey is $625 a month, 35.7% below the Iowa median. Median household income is $66,250, 11.7% below the Iowa median. Some headline survey estimates have low precision; read their margins of error before comparing small differences.

What stands out in Montrose?

Compared with other Iowa places, Montrose is most distinctive for fewer local jobs relative to residents, fewer college graduates and more homeowners. Each statement below uses reliable estimates only, and survey differences from the state exceed their combined 90% margin of error.

  • Jobs located in the place per 100 residents: 15.2; lower than 96% of 394 Iowa places with reliable estimates.
  • Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.8%, 18.6 percentage points below the Iowa rate (31.4%); lower than 94% of 488 Iowa places with reliable estimates.
  • Homeownership rate: 90.7%, 19.0 percentage points above the Iowa rate (71.7%); higher than 86% of 859 Iowa places with reliable estimates.
  • Population change since April 2020: +0.4%; higher than 75% of 823 Iowa places with reliable estimates.

How Montrose compares with Iowa and the U.S.

City, state and U.S. figures · ACS 2020–2024, LODES 8.4 and PEP Vintage 2025 · position among Iowa places with reliable estimates
Measure Montrose Iowa U.S. Position in Iowa
Population change since April 2020 PEP Vintage 2025 +0.4% — — higher than 75% of 823 Iowa places
Residents per square mile of land PEP 2025 / Gazetteer 2025 616 — — lower than 54% of 938 Iowa places
Median household income B19013 $66,250 ±$24,792 $75,059 $80,734 lower than 51% of 788 Iowa places
Median home value B25077 $103,500 ±$34,039 $208,000 $332,700 lower than 64% of 830 Iowa places
Median real estate taxes paid B25103 $1,348 ±$133 $2,897 $3,119 lower than 62% of 843 Iowa places
Median gross rent B25064 $625 ±$384 · low precision $972 $1,413 Not ranked: low precision
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent B25070 61.5% ±74.9 pp · low precision 43.9% 51.1% Not ranked: low precision
Homeownership rate B25003 90.7% ±7.9 pp 71.7% 65.2% higher than 86% of 859 Iowa places
Median age B01002 42.6 years ±5.3 38.6 years 38.9 years higher than 55% of 867 Iowa places
Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher B15003 12.8% ±5.4 pp 31.4% 35.7% lower than 94% of 488 Iowa places
Poverty rate B17001 11.7% ±7.7 pp · low precision 11.1% 12.5% Not ranked: low precision
People without health insurance B27010 3.3% ±3.1 pp · low precision 5.0% 8.4% Not ranked: low precision
Households with a broadband subscription B28002 95.3% ±7.3 pp 88.9% 91.0% higher than 93% of 873 Iowa places
Unemployment rate (civilian labor force) B23025 1.0% ±1.5 pp · low precision 3.6% 5.2% Not ranked: low precision
Foreign-born residents B05002 0.7% ±1.2 pp · low precision 5.9% 14.1% Not ranked: low precision
Jobs located in the place per 100 residents LODES 8.4 / PEP 15.2 — — lower than 96% of 394 Iowa places
Workers who work from home B08301 3.4% ±3.4 pp · low precision 11.3% 15.1% Not ranked: low precision
Commutes of 45 minutes or longer B08303 4.3% ±3.3 pp · low precision 8.2% 16.5% Not ranked: low precision
Households without a vehicle B08201 1.0% ±2.3 pp · low precision 5.4% 8.4% Not ranked: low precision

Positions compare Montrose with Iowa places in this directory whose estimate has a coefficient of variation of 30% or less (survey measures) or a published PEP value. The marker runs from the lowest value (left) to the highest (right); it is a description, not a score or a recommendation. 9 measures are shown in grey because the survey margin of error is too wide to rank reliably. With 745 residents, Montrose has a small ACS sample; prefer the population and geography records for precise comparisons.

How many people live in Montrose?

The latest official estimate is 745 residents on July 1, 2025. It ranks 11,540th by population nationally and 349th in Iowa among this directory’s PEP places. Population changed by 12 residents between the 2024 and 2025 estimates. These are annual estimates, not census enumerations.

Montrose population estimates, 2020 through 2025, Census Vintage 2025. Vertical range 688 to 767; axis does not start at zero. Residents · axis does not start at zero 767 688 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Annual July 1 estimates, all from Vintage 2025. Revised April 1, 2020 estimate base: 742; the base is separate from July 2020.
Population history · PEP Vintage 2025
Reference date Population Change from previous estimate
July 1, 2020 742 Separate from April 2020 base
July 1, 2021 735 -7
July 1, 2022 727 -8
July 1, 2023 724 -3
July 1, 2024 733 +9
July 1, 2025 745 +12

From the revised April 2020 base to July 2025, the change is +3 residents (0.4%). This is a within-vintage comparison. Boundary adjustments can affect both the estimates and their interpretation.

Download this population chart (SVG) · Official population release

Where are the boundaries?

Entity and stable identifier
Montrose city, Iowa · Incorporated city · 1953760
Counties or equivalents · 2025 boundaries
Lee County
Metropolitan or micropolitan context · July 2023 delineations
Fort Madison, IA — Micropolitan Statistical Area County associations use Census PEP county place parts. Each county is matched by FIPS code to the official CBSA list; a city can span several counties or statistical areas. A missing association can reflect an area outside a CBSA or changed county codes between vintages. City figures on this page remain place-level statistics.
Land area
1.2 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Water area
0.0 square miles · 2025 Gazetteer
Approximate population density
616 residents per square mile of land
Internal point
40.525347°, -91.418407° · Census geographic reference point

Density divides the July 2025 estimate by 2025 Gazetteer land area, so it is approximate. The internal point is a locator, not an address. Census place profile reference .

Income and poverty

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median household income Households · USD/year $66,250 ±$24,792 $75,059 ±$418 $80,734 ±$166
Per-capita income Total population · USD/year $32,735 ±$4,819 $40,877 ±$247 $44,673 ±$122
Population with poverty status determined · B17001 · ACS 2020–2024 People with poverty status determined: 717
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Below the poverty level 84 ±61 · low precision 11.7% ±7.7 pp · low precision

Household income combines the incomes of everyone in a household; per-capita income divides all income by every resident. The poverty rate is 11.7% (±7.7 percentage points · low precision) under the official Census definition.

Home values, rent and tenure

City, state and U.S. estimates · ACS 2020–2024
Measure / survey universe City estimate ± MOE State estimate ± MOE U.S. estimate ± MOE
Median owner-occupied home value Owner-occupied housing units · USD $103,500 ±$34,039 $208,000 ±$1,141 $332,700 ±$236
Median gross rent Renter-occupied units paying cash rent · USD/month $625 ±$384 · low precision $972 ±$6 $1,413 ±$2
Occupied housing units by tenure · B25003 · ACS 2020–2024 Occupied housing units: 301
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Owner occupied 273 ±92 90.7% ±7.9 pp
Renter occupied 28 ±23 · low precision 9.3% ±7.0 pp · low precision

Owner-occupied units make up 90.7% of occupied housing. Gross rent includes estimated tenant-paid utilities and home values are owners’ own estimates; both cover 2020–2024 leases and homes rather than current listings. The median home value is 1.6 times the median household income.

See housing units, occupancy, rent burden and homeowner costs .

Monthly rent by bedroom count

Median monthly gross rent by bedrooms · ACS 2020–2024 · 2024 dollars
Bedrooms Monthly gross rent 90% margin of error Precision
No bedroom (studio) Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
1 bedroom $300 ±$93 Estimate with MOE
2 bedrooms $436 ±$339 Low precision
3 bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
4 bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable
5 or more bedrooms Unavailable Unavailable Unavailable

Census table B25031 describes renter-occupied units paying cash rent within this exact place geography. Gross rent includes contract rent and estimated tenant-paid utilities. These survey medians include existing leases across 2020–2024; they are not current apartment listings. Missing categories stay unavailable, and open-ended medians remain ranges. Small bedroom categories can have large margins of error. Download source values and provenance .

Employment among residents

Labor-force participation · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Population age 16 and older: 609
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
In the labor force 399 ±143 65.5% ±12.8 pp
Not in the labor force 210 ±69 34.5% ±4.6 pp
Civilian labor-force status · B23025 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian labor force: 399
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Civilian employed 395 ±143 99.0% ±5.1 pp
Civilian unemployed 4 ±6 · low precision 1.0% ±1.5 pp · low precision

These estimates describe residents of Montrose wherever they work; jobs at workplaces inside the city appear under jobs located in Montrose. They are 2020–2024 averages, not a current monthly unemployment rate.

Which industries employ residents?

Manufacturing is the largest of the published broad industry groups among employed residents: 28.4% (112 people; ±9.5 percentage points). The estimate covers residents’ industries wherever they work, rather than employers located inside the place.

Industry of employed residents · C24030 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 395
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining 9 ±11 · low precision 2.3% ±2.6 pp · low precision
Construction 14 ±16 · low precision 3.5% ±3.7 pp · low precision
Manufacturing 112 ±55 28.4% ±9.5 pp
Wholesale trade 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±3.6 pp · low precision
Retail trade 23 ±18 · low precision 5.8% ±4.1 pp · low precision
Transportation, warehousing and utilities 17 ±13 · low precision 4.3% ±2.8 pp · low precision
Information 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±3.6 pp · low precision
Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing 24 ±20 · low precision 6.1% ±4.6 pp · low precision
Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste services 14 ±12 · low precision 3.5% ±2.8 pp · low precision
Education, health care and social assistance 89 ±54 · low precision 22.5% ±10.8 pp
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services 6 ±12 · low precision 1.5% ±3.0 pp · low precision
Other services, except public administration 66 ±46 · low precision 16.7% ±10.0 pp · low precision
Public administration 21 ±16 · low precision 5.3% ±3.5 pp · low precision

Occupations among employed residents

Broad occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 395
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management, business, science and arts 134 ±48 33.9% ±17.4 pp · low precision
Service occupations 64 ±47 · low precision 16.2% ±10.4 pp · low precision
Sales and office 71 ±35 18.0% ±5.9 pp
Natural resources, construction and maintenance 49 ±42 · low precision 12.4% ±9.7 pp · low precision
Production, transportation and material moving 77 ±40 · low precision 19.5% ±7.4 pp
Selected detailed occupation groups · C24010 · ACS 2020–2024 Civilian employed population age 16 and older: 395
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Management occupations 34 ±21 · low precision 8.6% ±4.4 pp · low precision
Computer and mathematical occupations 0 ±14 · low precision 0.0% ±3.6 pp · low precision
Educational instruction and library occupations 36 ±29 · low precision 9.1% ±6.5 pp · low precision
Health practitioners and technical occupations 18 ±18 · low precision 4.6% ±4.3 pp · low precision
Sales and related occupations 17 ±15 · low precision 4.3% ±3.5 pp · low precision
Transportation occupations 11 ±13 · low precision 2.8% ±3.3 pp · low precision

The detailed groups are subsets of the broad groups and should not be added to them.

How residents get to work

Means of transportation to work · B08301 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16 and older: 385
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Drove alone 319 ±123 82.9% ±10.0 pp
Carpooled 21 ±20 · low precision 5.5% ±4.8 pp · low precision
Public transportation 0 ±10 · low precision 0.0% ±2.6 pp · low precision
Taxi or ride-hailing 0 ±10 · low precision 0.0% ±2.6 pp · low precision
Motorcycle 0 ±10 · low precision 0.0% ±2.6 pp · low precision
Bicycle 18 ±23 · low precision 4.7% ±5.7 pp · low precision
Walked 0 ±10 · low precision 0.0% ±2.6 pp · low precision
Other means 14 ±17 · low precision 3.6% ±4.2 pp · low precision
Worked from home 13 ±14 · low precision 3.4% ±3.4 pp · low precision
Travel time to work · B08303 · ACS 2020–2024 Workers age 16+ who did not work from home: 372
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
Under 15 minutes 186 ±72 50.0% ±6.5 pp
15–29 minutes 146 ±61 39.2% ±8.4 pp
30–44 minutes 24 ±24 · low precision 6.5% ±5.9 pp · low precision
45–59 minutes 2 ±4 · low precision 0.5% ±1.1 pp · low precision
60 minutes or longer 14 ±13 · low precision 3.8% ±3.2 pp · low precision
Household vehicle availability · B08201 · ACS 2020–2024 Households: 301
Category Count ± MOE Share ± MOE (pp)
No vehicle available 3 ±7 · low precision 1.0% ±2.3 pp · low precision

Travel times cover workers who did not work from home. Vehicle availability is counted per household, not per driver.

Households and residents

Median age is 42.6 years (±5.3). The demographic profile covers age groups, race and Hispanic origin, household types, nativity, languages, education and moves, each compared with Iowa and the U.S.

Read Montrose demographics →

How many jobs are located in Montrose?

Employers in Montrose reported 110 jobs in 2023, +23.6% compared with 2019 (89 jobs). That is 15.2 jobs for every 100 residents in the July 2023 population estimate, so most employed residents are likely to work elsewhere. These are jobs at workplaces inside the city limits, wherever the workers live, unlike resident employment figures.

Jobs located in Montrose by industry (NAICS sector) · 2023 · LODES 8.4
Industry Jobs Share of local jobs Iowa share
Health care and social assistance 51 46.4% 14.2%
Other services, except public administration 20 18.2% 2.7%
Public administration 16 14.5% 4.0%
Accommodation and food services 8 7.3% 7.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 6 5.5% 1.3%
Retail trade 5 4.5% 11.3%
Wholesale trade 2 1.8% 4.4%
Finance and insurance 2 1.8% 6.0%
Monthly earnings and worker age · jobs located in Montrose · 2023
Group Jobs Share Iowa share
$1,250 a month or less 40 36.4% 19.9%
$1,251 to $3,333 a month 45 40.9% 23.4%
More than $3,333 a month 25 22.7% 56.7%
Age 29 or younger 35 31.8% 24.7%
Age 30 to 54 46 41.8% 51.2%
Age 55 or older 29 26.4% 24.0%

Health care and social assistance is the largest sector for jobs located in Montrose (46.4% of local jobs, compared with 14.2% statewide). Earnings bands describe what each job pays per month, not household income, and a worker can hold more than one job.

Source: Census LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (LODES) 8.4, workplace area characteristics, all jobs, second-quarter reference date. Census blocks are summed to 2024 place boundaries. Includes private, state and local government and federal civilian jobs; excludes self-employment, military and informal work. Counts include confidentiality noise and are less precise for small places.

Nearby station climate normals

FT MADISON, IA (NOAA station USC00133007) is approximately 12.9 km from this place’s Census internal point. The table describes that station’s 1991–2020 climate normals, using NOAA’s corrected version 1.0.1. It is historical station context, rather than a forecast or an average across the city.

FT MADISON monthly average daily high and low temperature, 1991–2020 NOAA normals. Solid line: high; dashed line: low. Vertical scale 10 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature (°F) 90 10 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov
Average daily high: solid line. Average daily low: dashed line. NOAA station normals, 1991–2020; the table gives all monthly values.
FT MADISON · 1991–2020 monthly normals
Month Average daily high (°F) Average daily low (°F) Precipitation (inches)
January 32.8 16.9 1.69
February 37.5 20.9 1.93
March 49.9 31.6 2.72
April 62.2 42.5 3.97
May 72.3 53.8 5.11
June 81.5 63.4 5.16
July 85.1 67.5 4.06
August 83.8 65.6 3.80
September 77.1 57.2 3.51
October 64.2 45.2 3.06
November 49.7 32.8 2.43
December 37.6 22.7 1.92

Station location: 40.6222°, -91.3339°; elevation 161.5 meters. We select the nearest station within 25 km with all 12 months of high/low temperature and precipitation marked “S” (standard) by NOAA. Standard normals meet NOAA’s data-availability rules and can include estimated missing months. Distance is a straight-line great-circle calculation from the Census internal point. Coastal exposure, elevation and urban conditions can differ between the station and an address. NOAA normals and definitions · Original station CSV · Retained station data, flags and matching details .

Check a specific address before moving

City averages help compare places. A particular home’s school assignment, transit service and flood-map coverage need checks at the address.

  • FEMA Flood Map Service Center — search the address, read the effective map and its date, and check any map changes. An unmapped location does not establish an absence of flood risk.
  • NCES public school district directory — find district contact information, then use the district’s official address locator or enrollment office to confirm school assignment. A city name or district boundary alone does not assign a school.
  • FCC National Broadband Map — check reported service at the exact location, then confirm availability and terms with the provider.
  • Check the official transit operator’s route map and timetable for the address and your actual travel hours; the citywide commuting shares above do not measure service on a particular street.

Sources and data notes

Population: Census PEP Vintage 2025, published May 14, 2026. Survey measures: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates, published January 29, 2026, dollar figures in 2024 dollars. Geography: Census 2025 Gazetteer, with simplified 2024 state outlines for the locator. Statistical estimates and derived values use the same retained records in profiles, comparison, filters and downloads.

Climate uses NOAA 1991–2020 station normals (v1.0.1); jobs located in the city use LEHD LODES 8.4. Crime, school assignments and hazard scores are not inferred from these datasets, and missing values are never treated as zero. Inspect original sources, read calculation details, download this place’s source observations , or submit a correction.

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