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Royal, IA
City in Clay County, Iowa.
Population
585
Land area
0.3sq mi
People per sq mi
1,983
ZIP codes
0
Royal and its ZIP codes
Royal at a glance
- Royal is about 34 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $56,893 a year, 24% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $87,200 (58% below Iowa) and median rent is $895 a month.
Local data for Royal, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Royal, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$56,893
Poverty rate
12.0%
Median home value
$87,200
Median rent
$895/mo
Homeownership
65.9%
Bachelor's or higher
15.3%
Median age
30.0
Average commute
23.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (209), Mexican Americans (67), Norwegian Americans (22).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Clay County. PPP loans are for Royal.
Unemployment rate
3.0%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$54,799
8,536 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$69,323
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$137M
FY 2026, $8,363 per person
How people get to work
Royal, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone62.5%
- Carpooled27.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.7%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.3%
- Worked from home4.3%
Average one-way commute: 23.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Royal, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
893
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
133
1.8% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 8°F
26.8 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Royal, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.4%
U.S. 33.3% +2.1 pts
Diabetes
11.4%
U.S. 12.1% -0.7 pts
Smoking
16.0%
U.S. 12.8% +3.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.5%
U.S. 11.1% -4.6 pts
Cities near Royal
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| RossieCity | 6 mi | 0.1 |
| EverlyCity | 6.8 mi | 1 |
| GreenvilleCity | 7.8 mi | 0.2 |
| SpencerCity | 8.6 mi | 10.9 |
| PetersonCity | 11 mi | 0.5 |
| Linn GroveCity | 12 mi | 0.6 |
| HartleyCity | 12 mi | 1.3 |
| SutherlandCity | 12 mi | 0.8 |
| Gillett GroveCity | 13 mi | 0.2 |
| FostoriaCity | 14 mi | 0.4 |
| DickensCity | 14 mi | 0.8 |
| Sioux RapidsCity | 14 mi | 0.8 |
| CalumetCity | 16 mi | 0.3 |
| WebbCity | 16 mi | 0.5 |
| PrimgharCity | 17 mi | 1.4 |
| RembrandtCity | 18 mi | 0.2 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Royal, IA in?
- Royal is in Clay County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Royal, IA?
- About 585 people live in Royal, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Royal?
- Nearby places include Rossie (6 mi), Everly (6.8 mi), Greenville (7.8 mi), Spencer (8.6 mi), Peterson (11 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023