Tama County Demographics

A map of Tama County's Population by Race

Tama County, Iowa has an estimated population of 16,868, a slight decrease from the 17,135 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 78.4% White, 11.7% Hispanic, 5.4% Native American/Other, 2.9% Multiracial, 0.9% Black, and 0.7% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Tama County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Tama has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more 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 Tama County, that probability was 38.1% in 2020 and 36.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Tama County is ranked the 43rd most populous county in Iowa, out of 99 counties. Tama County was ranked the 41st most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Tama County's White Population

13,220 residents of Tama County, or 78.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Tama County is slightly lower than in Iowa overall, where 82.3% of the population is White. Tama County ranks 89th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Tama County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Tama County's population has increased from 77.5% to 78.4%.

Tama County is more White than neighboring Black Hawk County (78.1% White), and Marshall County (66% White). Tama County is less White than neighboring Poweshiek County (89.8% White), Grundy County (94.9% White), and Benton County (94.4% White).

Tama County's Black Population

154 residents of Tama County, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Tama County is slightly lower than in Iowa overall, where 3.8% of the population is Black. Tama County ranks 48th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Tama County's Black population has grown by an estimated 23.2%. Black residents' share of Tama County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Tama County is more Black than neighboring Grundy County (0.6% Black), and Benton County (0.4% Black). Tama County is less Black than neighboring Black Hawk County (9.1% Black), and Marshall County (1.6% Black).

Tama County's Asian Population

116 residents of Tama County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Tama County is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 2.5% of the population is Asian. Tama County ranks 50th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Tama County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 45.0%. Asian residents' share of Tama County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Tama County is more Asian than neighboring Grundy County (0.5% Asian), and Benton County (0.2% Asian). Tama County is less Asian than neighboring Poweshiek County (2% Asian), Black Hawk County (2.7% Asian), and Marshall County (4.1% Asian).

Tama County's Hispanic Population

1,968 residents of Tama County, or 11.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Tama County is slightly higher than in Iowa overall, where 7.3% of the population is Hispanic. Tama County ranks 12th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Tama County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 9.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Tama County's population has increased from 10.5% to 11.7%.

Tama County is more Hispanic than neighboring Poweshiek County (3.5% Hispanic), Grundy County (1.8% Hispanic), Black Hawk County (5.2% Hispanic), and Benton County (2% Hispanic). Tama County is less Hispanic than neighboring Marshall County (24.6% Hispanic).

Tama County's Native American/Other Population

915 residents of Tama County, or 5.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Tama County is slightly higher than in Iowa overall, where 0.6% of the population is Native American/Other. Tama County ranks 1st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Tama County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 29.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Tama County's population has decreased from 7.5% to 5.4%.

Tama County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Poweshiek County (0.4% Native American/Other), Grundy County (1.2% Native American/Other), Black Hawk County (1% Native American/Other), Benton County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Marshall County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Tama County's Multiracial Population

495 residents of Tama County, or 2.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Tama County is comparable to the share in Iowa overall, where 3.5% of the population is Multiracial. Tama County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 99 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Tama County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 10.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Tama County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.9%.

Tama County is more Multiracial than neighboring Grundy County (1.1% Multiracial), and Benton County (2.8% Multiracial). Tama County is less Multiracial than neighboring Poweshiek County (3.3% Multiracial), Black Hawk County (3.9% Multiracial), and Marshall County (3.2% 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.