Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Arlington’s average trip to work is 39 minutes, above both the Iowa town median (19 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a higher median age than Arlington. Arlington has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Arlington beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 593 in 1890, a peak of 863 in 1900, 419 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1901 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Arlington, 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 Arlington.
At $39,000, Arlington’s median household income is against $69,000 in Iowa’s towns and $80,000 across U.S. towns. 15% of Arlington residents live below the poverty line. Most working residents leave Arlington for work: only 3% work in town.
| Arlington | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 2.6% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $39,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 11% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Arlington’s July high is 82°F. Arlington has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 61% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Arlington beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 41% of adults have high blood pressure in Arlington. Only 2 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Arlington.
| Arlington | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| What stands out | Arlington | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.5% | 77.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.5% | 6.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The typical Arlington home is worth about $264,000, up 11.2% in a year, 12% above the Iowa typical home. The median rent in Arlington is $560 a month. Only 7 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a higher share of households owning their home than Arlington.
| Arlington | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 89% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $560 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. City Park | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
1 within 15 miles of the center of Arlington
About 1 of every 100 Arlington residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
Where Arlington’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
3 notable people were born in Arlington.
City in Iowa, United States
Arlington is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. The population was 419 in the 2020 census, a decline from the 490 population in the 2000 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Arlington has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
3 notable people were born here, including Percy R. Kelly and Chris Soules.
