AtkinsIowaPopPlot, 2021
Atkins’s story
145 years in pictures
Census counts: 202 in 1920, 2,056 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1888 on.
- 1881Atkins is founded
AtkinsIA
A town of 2,203, founded in 1881.
Population
2,203
2025 Census estimate · +7% since 2020
Typical home
$373K
+9.3% in a year
Household income
$112K
median
Median age
37.8
years
Jobs based here
185
A commuter town
Is Atkins a good place to live?
Atkins’ best subject grades are an A for incomes, an A+ for the outdoors, and an A− for civic life. Only 26 of Iowa’s 276 towns score higher on incomes. Atkins’ trail density is 1.6 miles per square mile, above both the Iowa town median (0.3) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Only 4 of Iowa’s 276 towns score higher on the outdoors. The biggest place to walk is Atkins Roundhouse Nature Trail, 65 acres with 1.4 miles of trail. Atkins has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Atkins stand out
Where Atkins beats most towns.
A growing town
Atkins has grown 32% since 2010
1,670 counted in 2010 and 2,056 in 2020; an estimated 2,203 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Atkins grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Atkins is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAOpen →SchoolsA−Open →HealthSt. Lukes Hospital 10.2 miles awayB+Open →Cost of livingTypical home $373K, 4.8 years of the Cedar Rapids metro’s $78K median household incomeB+Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.3 of 20; 2.7% of households have no car; 2.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 8% conserved landA+Open →History1 notable person born hereCOpen →Civic life3.1 library visits per resident; 5.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Atkins: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Atkins, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterAtkins Municipal Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Atkins’ 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 hereBenton County AuditorBenton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code5220652206 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 Atkins.
HousingCost of living grade B+
Atkins stands out in Iowa and nationally, with more of its households who own their home
91% of households own their home in Atkins, against 70% in Iowa’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns. The median rent in Atkins is $604 a month. Typical home values rose 9.3% in the year to September 2026.
$373KZillow home value
| Atkins | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 91% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $604 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Atkins$373K
Iowa$237K
+9.3%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA−
Atkins’ schools rank ahead of 75% of Iowa districts
Its public schools are run by the Benton Community School District. Its one school is below.
75%of IA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atkins Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–3 | Grades PK–3 | 394 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, fewer of Atkins’ working residents work locally
1.3% of Atkins working residents work locally. Jobs based in Atkins grew to 185 in 2023, 55 more than in 2013. Atkins’ median household income is $112,000.
1%work in town
| Atkins | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.3% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $112,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 14% | 8.5% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Atkins1%
Cedar Rapids43%
Iowa City5%
Marion3%
Hiawatha3%
12 mi
median commute distance
185
jobs based in Atkins
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 49% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Atkins is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Atkins beats the Iowa average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 23% of adults binge drink in Atkins. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 8 have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Atkins.
74%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Atkins | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 20% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.8% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 26% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
12 better20 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Atkins | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.2% | 11.6% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.1% | 7.3% |
St. Lukes Hospital
10.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Atkins, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Atkins has cold winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 11° and about 27 inches of snow falls in a winter.
27″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–31°
Spring38–59°
Summer61–82°
Fall40–61°
Oct 11
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Iowa overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 45% of residents (37% statewide); people 65 and older are 12% of residents (18% statewide). Atkins has grown 7% since 2020, to 2,203 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 36% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
37.8median age · IA 38.6
| Atkins | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 12% | 19% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 27% | 23% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 25% | 29% |
| Median age | 37.8 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
AtkinsIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school23%
Some college22%
Associate’s16%
Bachelor’s22%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.5 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Atkins | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.9% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.9% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.3% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.4% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 18.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14.9% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.6% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 7.3% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.4% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.5% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.1% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.2% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 16.1% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.1% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,200, single groups can be off by several points
7.8%conserved
7.8%
conserved · 54 of 698 acres
1.7 mi
of trails · 1.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Atkins Roundhouse Nature Trail | 1.4 mi | 65 |
| 2. Atkins City Park | 0.2 mi | 13 |
| 3. Primrose Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Atkins faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingStrong windTornadoes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 18 attractions →Kinnick Stadium and 14 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Atkins. Close and well known come first.
28 mi Stadium & arenaKinnick Stadium
35 mi MuseumHerbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum39 mi Theme parkLost Island Theme Park
10 mi MuseumNational Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
28 mi Stadium & arenaCarver–Hawkeye Arena
34 mi National Historic SiteHerbert Hoover National Historic Site107K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Kinnick Stadium: Count_de_Des_Moines (talk) (Uploads), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum: Shadow2700, Public domain · National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library: ArtisticAbode, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Carver–Hawkeye Arena: Asolsma1988, CC0 · Herbert Hoover National Historic Site: Billwhittaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Atkins
19pages on Atkins
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Atkins
Coe CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Cedar Rapids10.3 mi$54,666 tuitionMount Mercy UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Cedar Rapids10.7 mi$40,878 tuitionKirkwood Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Cedar Rapids12.1 mi$6,176 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Atkins residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Iowa.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Atkins for work
Where Atkins’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
185jobs based in Atkins
1%of working residents work in town
12 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Atkins
City in Iowa, United States
Atkins is a city in Benton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,056 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 853 ft
- ZIP code
- 52206
- Area code
- 977
Questions about Atkins
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Atkins, IA expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.