Pella: Demographics & People
10,720 people call Pella home, in 3,995 households. Population grew 0.9% from 10,624 (2022) to 10,720 (2024). Median age 35.2 years. (4.7y younger than Marion County; 2.1y younger than Iowa). Children under 18 are 22% of the population. Population is 94% White (non-Hispanic) and 3% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.11). 62% of households are family-led. County is losing 58 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.7 people per household (vs Iowa avg 2.4).
- 38% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Iowa 43%).
- 68 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Iowa 70).
Population & Trend
Population grew 0.9% from 10,624 (2022) to 10,720 (2024) — about 1.5× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~10,816 (extrapolated at 0.5%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 10,946.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 22,190 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 0.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 10,624 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 10,720 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 10,720 people (vs Iowa 24,827) |
| Population Estimate | 10,946 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 35.2y is 3.7 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 22% — near the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 35.2 years (vs Iowa 37.3y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 21.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 10,720 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 2,304 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 3,027.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 3,372.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,017 |
| Population under 18 | 2,304 |
| Median age | 35.2 years (vs Iowa 37.3y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 10,720 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.11 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 10,018 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 77 |
| Asian residents | 186 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 343 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 10.9% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 94.3% |
| Asian population | 1.3% (vs Iowa 1.9%) |
| Black population | 0.4% (vs Iowa 3.6%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 3.2% (vs Iowa 5.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 93.7% (vs Iowa 81.2%) |
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 (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 7,567 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 2,646 |
| Share born in this state | 70.6% |
| Share born in another state | 29.4% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 24.7% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 342 |
| From Europe | 113 |
| From Africa | 141 |
Households & Family Composition
3,995 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 62% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 2,504 families, 35% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 2,335 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 2,504 |
| Married couples with children | 878 |
| Single-parent households | 43 |
| Average household size | 2.31 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 7.7% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 19 |
| Family households | 2,491 households (vs Iowa 6,171) |
| Households that are families | 62.4% (vs Iowa 57.4%) |
| Total households | 3,995 households (vs Iowa 10,135) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 18.8% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 58 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 18.8% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 19,910 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 19,968 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -58 |
| 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 | 437 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 4.2% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 1,401 residents live in group quarters (13.1% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,401 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 2 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 19123 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 19 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 123 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Mahaska |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 17.5% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 13.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 22.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 19123 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Mahaska County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 840 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 19123 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Mahaska County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 49.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 45.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 57.5% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 22,095 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 6.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 5 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 2 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 21.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 10,720, stable, family-oriented, upper-middle, white collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 10,720 people (vs Iowa 24,827) |
| Town Summary · County | Mahaska County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade