St. Olaf: Demographics & People

St. Olaf's population stands at 76 people, in 39 households. Population grew 1.3% from 75 (2022) to 76 (2024). Median age 51.5 years. (5.1y older than Clayton County; 12.7y older than Iowa). Children under 18 are 9% of the population. Population is 100% White (non-Hispanic). The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.00). 69% of households are family-led. County is losing 234 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 41% adult obesity, 17% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 1.3% from 75 (2022) to 76 (2024) — about 2.2× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~77 (extrapolated at 0.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 78.

Census data vintage2024
Population17,043 people
Annual growth rate · Population change1.3%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)75
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)76
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorygrowing
Population76 people
Population Estimate78

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 51.5y is 12.6 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 9% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age51.5 years (vs Iowa 38.8y)
Age Summary · Children Pct9.2%
Age Summary · Characterretirement community
Population under 187
Median age51.5 years (vs Iowa 38.8y)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 76 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.00 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.

White residents75
Diversity Index · Diversity labelrelatively homogeneous
Diversity Index · Groups counted1
Diversity Index · Largest group share100.0%
White (non-Hispanic) population100.0%

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Ancestry

Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.

Top (6)

(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
American
(unnamed)
Polish

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).

Residents born in this state44
Residents born in another state32
Share born in this state57.9%
Share born in another state42.1%
Native-born U.S. citizens42.1%
Total foreign-born residents328

Households & Family Composition

39 households. Averaging 2.0 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 69% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 26 families, 12% are married couples with children.

Children under 1810
Total families26
Married couples with children3
Single-parent households1
Average household size2.03
Women who gave birth (past year)10.0%
Grandparents living with grandchildren139
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren46
Family households27 households
Households that are families69.2%
Total households39 households

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 3.9% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 234 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Lived in same home a year ago76.0%
Moved within the county (past year)3.9%
Migration · People moving in (annual)16,561
Migration · People moving out (annual)16,795
Migration · Net migration (in − out)-234
Migration · Year2022-2023

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Disability

Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.

Residents with a disability2
Disability rate1.9%

Other

Congressional District · District2
Congressional District · FormattedIA-02
Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips19,043
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips19
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips43
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyClayton
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate8.8%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci5.90
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci12.80
Cdc Mortality · Fips19,043
Cdc Mortality · CountyClayton County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralNoncore
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023601
Cdc Vaccination · Fips19,043
Cdc Vaccination · CountyClayton County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct53.8%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct49.8%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct57.7%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 201917,549
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusNon-metro
Family Score · Score6.50
Family Score · Schools11
Family Score · Children Pct9.2%
Family Score · Ratinggood
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 76, growing, retirement community, upper-middle, blue collar
Town Summary · Population76 people
Town Summary · CountyClayton County

Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade