AlvordIowaPopPlot, 2021
Alvord’s story
136 years in pictures
Census counts: 249 in 1900, a peak of 359 in 1920, 206 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1971 on.
- 1890Alvord is settled
AlvordIA
A town of 217, settled in 1890.
Population
217
2025 Census estimate · +3.8% since 2020
Typical home
$268K
+16.2% in a year
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
38.9
years
Jobs based here
28
A commuter town
Is Alvord a good place to live?
Alvord’s average trip to work is 34 minutes, above both Iowa’s towns (19 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a higher share of households owning their home than Alvord. Alvord has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
217 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Alvord: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Alvord, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterAlvord Municipal Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Alvord’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLyon County AuditorLyon County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2024
ZIP code5123051230 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Alvord.
Work & commute
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, fewer of Alvord’s working residents work locally
1.1% of working residents work locally in Alvord, where Iowa’s towns sit at 31% and U.S. towns at 8%. The top destinations are Inwood (9%), Rock Valley (9%) and Rock Rapids (5%). Half commute less than 10 miles.
1%work in town
| Alvord | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.1% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Alvord1%
Inwood9%
Rock Valley9%
Rock Rapids5%
Doon3%
10 mi
median commute distance
28
jobs based in Alvord
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Alvord has four seasons and pleasant summers
Alvord has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 8° and about 34 inches of snow falls in a winter.
34″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–29°
Spring35–57°
Summer60–82°
Fall37–60°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Housing
A typical Alvord home is worth about $268K
The typical Alvord home is worth about $268,000, up 16.2% in a year, 13% above the Iowa typical home.
$268KZillow home value
Typical home value
Alvord$268K
Iowa$237K
+16.2%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Health
Fewer of Alvord’s adults have been diagnosed with depression than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
19% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Alvord. Alvord beats the Iowa average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 22% of adults binge drink in Alvord.
| Alvord | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 21% | 23% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
2 better30 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Alvord | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.2% | 11.6% |
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 73.2% | 66.6% |
Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital
9 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in Alvord, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 55% of U.S. communities.
45risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHailTornadoes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Alvord
16pages on Alvord
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Alvord; the nearest are
Dordt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Sioux Center19.2 mi$37,050 tuitionNorthwest Iowa Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sheldon23.9 mi$7,350 in-state tuitionUniversity of South DakotaUniversity or college · Public · Vermillion, SD49.6 mi$9,432 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Alvord residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Alvord for work
Where Alvord’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
28jobs based in Alvord
1%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Alvord
City in Iowa, USA
Alvord is a city in Doon Township, Lyon County, Iowa, United States. The population was 206 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,322 ft
- ZIP code
- 51230
- Area code
- 712
Questions about Alvord
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Alvord, IA a good place to live?
Alvord has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.