St. Donatus: Demographics & People
About 135 people live in St. Donatus, in 79 households. Population grew 3.0% from 131 (2022) to 135 (2024). Median age 60.0 years. (15.3y older than Jackson County; 21.2y older than Iowa). Children under 18 are 5% of the population. Population is 98% White (non-Hispanic) and 2% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.04). 71% of households are family-led. County is gaining 116 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 1.7 people per household.
- 29% non-family households (singles, roommates).
Population & Trend
Population grew 3.0% from 131 (2022) to 135 (2024) — about 5.1× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~139 (extrapolated at 1.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 144.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 19,485 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 3.0% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 131 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 135 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | growing |
| Population | 135 people |
| Population Estimate | 144 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 60.0y is 21.1 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 5% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 60.0 years (vs Iowa 38.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 5.2% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Population under 18 | 7 |
| Median age | 60.0 years (vs Iowa 38.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 135 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.04 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 128 |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 4.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 2 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 97.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.5% |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 98.5% |
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 (4)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 124 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 11 |
| Share born in this state | 91.9% |
| Share born in another state | 8.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 8.1% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 226 |
Households & Family Composition
79 households. Averaging 1.8 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 71% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 56 families, 7% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 7 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 56 |
| Married couples with children | 4 |
| Average household size | 1.75 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 13.0% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 165 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 107 |
| Family households | 56 households |
| Households that are families | 70.9% |
| Total households | 79 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. 1.5% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 116 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 1.5% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 18,700 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 18,584 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 116 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
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 disability | 1 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 0.8% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | IA-01 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 19,097 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 19 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 97 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Jackson |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 13.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 9.80 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 18.10 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 19,097 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Jackson County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 658 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 19,097 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Jackson County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 57.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 54.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 61.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 19,439 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 4.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 6 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 5.2% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 135, growing, retirement community, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 135 people |
| Town Summary · County | Jackson County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade