Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 216, settled in 1873.
Alta Vista’s average trip to work is 32 minutes, against 19 minutes in Iowa’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Alta Vista. Alta Vista has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 179 in 1900, a peak of 356 in 1910, 227 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1972 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Alta Vista, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Alta Vista.
Alta Vista’s median household income is $45,000, where Iowa’s towns sit at $69,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. 13% of Alta Vista residents live below the poverty line. Most working residents leave Alta Vista for work: only 0% work in town.
| Alta Vista | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $45,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 11% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Alta Vista’s July high is 81°F. Alta Vista has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 64% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Alta Vista beats the Iowa average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 21% of adults binge drink in Alta Vista.
| Alta Vista | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 35% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 38% | 35% |
| What stands out | Alta Vista | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.8% | 8.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The typical Alta Vista home is worth about $244,000, up 7.5% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home. The median rent in Alta Vista is $640 a month.
| Alta Vista | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $640 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 69% | 70% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. City Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Alta Vista; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Alta Vista residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
Where Alta Vista’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Iowa, United States
Alta Vista is a city in Chickasaw County, Iowa, United States. The population was 227 at the 2020 census. The town was first named Elk Creek, but was changed to Alta Vista, meaning "high view" in Spanish. The town was established and incorporated in 1894. The George Darrow Round Barn in Alta Vista is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Alta Vista has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.