Elma, IA Demographics

A map of Elma's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	636	482	96.5%	95.4%
Multiracial	14	11	2.1%	2.2%
Hispanic	9	11	1.4%	2.2%
Black	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Asian	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Native American/Other	0	1	0.0%	0.2%

Elma, Iowa has an estimated population of 659, a dramatic increase from the 505 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 96.5% White, 2.1% Multiracial, 1.4% Hispanic, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Elma, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Elma has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Iowa overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Elma, that probability was 8.8% in 2020 and 6.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Elma is ranked the 404th most populous place in Iowa, out of 1,026 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Elma was ranked the 449th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Elma's White Population

636 residents of Elma, or 96.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Elma is considerably higher than in Iowa overall, where 82.3% of the population is White. Elma ranks 249th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Elma's White population has grown by an estimated 32.0%. White residents' share of Elma's population has increased from 95.4% to 96.5%.

Elma is more White than neighboring Alta Vista (85.6% White), North Washington (91.8% White), Riceville (91% White), Colwell (94.7% White), and Bassett (96% White).

Elma's Black Population

0 residents of Elma, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Elma is slightly lower than in Iowa overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. Elma ranks 600th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Elma's Black population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Black residents' share of Elma's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Elma's Asian Population

0 residents of Elma, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Elma is slightly lower than in Iowa overall, where 2.5% of the population is Asian. Elma ranks 543rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Elma's Asian population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Asian residents' share of Elma's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Elma is less Asian than neighboring Riceville (0.2% Asian), and Bassett (4% Asian).

Elma's Hispanic Population

9 residents of Elma, or 1.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Elma is lower than in Iowa overall, where 7.3% of the population is Hispanic. Elma ranks 589th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Elma's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 18.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Elma's population has decreased from 2.2% to 1.4%.

Elma is more Hispanic than neighboring Colwell (0% Hispanic), and Bassett (0% Hispanic). Elma is less Hispanic than neighboring Alta Vista (14.4% Hispanic), North Washington (3% Hispanic), and Riceville (5.7% Hispanic).

Elma's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Elma, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Elma is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Elma ranks 568th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Elma's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Elma's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Elma is less Native American/Other than neighboring North Washington (5.2% Native American/Other).

Elma's Multiracial Population

14 residents of Elma, or 2.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Elma is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 3.5% of the population is Multiracial. Elma ranks 658th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,026 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Elma's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 27.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Elma's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.1%.

Elma is more Multiracial than neighboring Alta Vista (0% Multiracial), North Washington (0% Multiracial), and Bassett (0% Multiracial). Elma is less Multiracial than neighboring Riceville (3% Multiracial), and Colwell (5.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.