What Cheer, IA Profile: Facts & Data

What Cheer, Iowa - Basic Facts

The City of What Cheer had a population of 643 as of July 1, 2025.

The primary coordinate point for What Cheer is located at latitude 41.4014 and longitude -92.3546 in Keokuk County. The formal boundaries for the City of What Cheer encompass a land area of 1.22 sq. miles and a water area of 0.02 sq. miles. Keokuk County is in the Central time zone (GMT -6).

The City of What Cheer has a C1 Census Class Code which indicates an active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent. It also has a Functional Status Code of "A" which identifies an active government providing primary general-purpose functions.

The City of What Cheer is located within Township of Washington, a minor civil division (MCD) of Keokuk County.

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What Cheer, IA Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION
Total Population	643 (100%)
Population in Households	643 (100.0%)
Population in Families	472 (73.4%)
Population in Group Quarters¹	0
Population Density	520
Diversity Index²	14


INCOME
Median Household Income	$49,803
Average Household Income	$57,754
% of Income for Mortgage⁴	7%
Per Capita Income	$23,443
Wealth Index⁵	38
Socioeconomic Status Index⁶	Moderate (45.7)

HOUSING
Total HU (Housing Units)	304 (100%)
Owner Occupied HU	184 (60.5%)
Renter Occupied HU	77 (25.3%)
Vacant Housing Units	43 (14.1%)
Median Home Value	$59,167
Average Home Value	$113,723
Housing Affordability Index³	279

HOUSEHOLDS
Total Households	261
Average Household Size	2.46
Family Households	134
Average Family Size	4.00

HOUSING

Total HU (Housing Units)

304 (100%)

Owner Occupied HU

184 (60.5%)

Renter Occupied HU

77 (25.3%)

Vacant Housing Units

43 (14.1%)

Median Home Value

$59,167

Average Home Value

$113,723

Housing Affordability Index³

279

HOUSEHOLDS

Total Households

261

Average Household Size

2.46

Family Households

134

Average Family Size

4.00

NOTES

Group Quarters - a place where people live or stay in a group living arrangement. Includes college residents halls, nursing facilities, military barracks, and correctional facilities.
The Diversity Index is a scale of 0 to 100 that represents the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different races or ethnic groups. If an area's entire population belongs to one race AND one ethnic group, then the area has zero diversity. An area's diversity index increases to 100 when the population is evenly divided into two or more race/ethnic groups.
The Housing Affordability Index base is 100 and represents a balance point where a resident with a median household income can normally qualify to purchase a median price home. Values above 100 indicate increased affordability, while values below 100 indicate decreased affordability.
The % of Income for Mortgage quantifies the percentage of median household income dedicated to mortgage payments on a home priced at the median value (assuming a 30-year mortgage and a 20% down payment).
The Wealth Index is based on a number of indicators of affluence including average household income and average net worth, but it also includes the value of material possessions and resources. It represents the wealth of the area relative to the national level. Values above or below 100 represent above-average wealth or below-average wealth compared to the national level.
The Socioeconomic Index ranges from zero (lowest relative status) to 100 (highest relative status). This measure quantifies disparities in social position of an area's inhabitants and is built from a broad range of demographic, housing, and socioeconomic inputs. More information on this measure can be found in Esri's SEI tutorial.

GROWTH RATE / YEAR	2020-2025	2025-2030
Population	1.10%	-0.31%
Households	-0.22%	-0.78%
Families		-1.70%
Median Household Income		2.65%
Per Capita Income		0.87%
Owner Occupied HU		0.00%

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

2020-2025

2025-2030

Population

1.10%

-0.31%

Households

-0.22%

-0.78%

Families

-1.70%

Median Household Income

2.65%

Per Capita Income

0.87%

Owner Occupied HU

0.00%

What Cheer, IA - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

The table below compares What Cheer to the other 1,026 incorporated cities, towns and CDPs in Iowa by rank and percentile using July 1, 2025 data. The location Ranked # 1 has the highest value. A location that ranks higher than 75% of its peers would be in the 75th percentile of the peer group.

Variable Description	Rank	Percentile
Total Population	# 406	61st
Population Density	# 591	42nd
Median Household Income	# 993	3rd
Housing Affordability Index	# 1020	99th
Per Capita Income	# 1021	1st
Diversity Index	# 652	37th

Variable Description

Rank

Percentile

Total Population

# 406

61st

Population Density

# 591

42nd

Median Household Income

# 993

3rd

Housing Affordability Index

# 1020

99th

Per Capita Income

# 1021

1st

Diversity Index

# 652

37th

Iowa Census Data Comparison Tool

What Cheer, IA Profile: Facts & Data

What Cheer, Iowa - Basic Facts

What Cheer, IA Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION

INCOME

HOUSING

HOUSEHOLDS

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

What Cheer, IA - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

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Keokuk County