Untitled photo, 2014
Belmond’s story
170 years in pictures
Census counts: 803 in 1890, 2,463 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1972 on.
- 1856Belmond is settled
BelmondIA
A town of 2,420, settled in 1856.
Population
2,420
2025 Census estimate · −1.9% since 2020
Typical home
$145K
−2.1% in a year
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
38.2
years
Jobs based here
985
Balanced
Is Belmond a good place to live?
The best of Belmond’s subject grades are an A for cost of living and an A− for civic life; the weakest is a D for schools. On incomes, just 7 of Iowa’s 276 towns do worse. Belmond is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 76% of U.S. towns. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 4 have a higher share of residents 65 or older than Belmond. Belmond has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Belmond stand out
Where Belmond beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Typical home value
Belmond$145K
Iowa$237K
Cost of livingA
2.2 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 94% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Belmond11.1
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical IA town7.5
Civic lifeA−
48% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Iowa town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Belmond-Klemme Comm School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Richard O. Jacobson Elementary School | PK–6 | 362 |
| Belmond-Klemme Community Jr-Sr High School | 7–12 | 297 |
| Belmond-Klemme Alternative School | 9–12 | — |
Worth knowing · SchoolsD
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
How Belmond grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Belmond is from typical.
Cost of livingAOpen →SchoolsDOpen →Jobs & incomeDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.2 of 20; 2.6% of households have no car; 3.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →HealthIowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond 0.2 miles awayC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 48% of U.S. communities; drought tops the listB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0 miles of trails; 1% conserved landC+Open →History3 notable people born hereCOpen →Civic life11.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 83° summer afternoons, 35″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 38.2–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Belmond: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Belmond, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBelmond Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Belmond’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 hereWright County AuditorWright County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5042150421 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 Belmond.
SchoolsD
Belmond’s public schools trail 93% of Iowa districts
Its public schools are run by the Belmond-Klemme Community School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
7%of IA districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard O. Jacobson Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 362 | C+ |
| Belmond-Klemme Community Jr-Sr High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 297 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade A
A typical Belmond home is worth about $145K
The typical Belmond home is worth about $145,000, down 2.1% in a year, 39% below the Iowa typical home. 81% of households own their home in Belmond, above both the Iowa town median (70%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%). The median rent in Belmond is $830 a month.
$145KZillow home value
| Belmond | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 81% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $830 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Belmond$145K
Iowa$237K
−2.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
Fewer middle-aged adults than Iowa overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 27% of residents (37% statewide); people 65 and older are 27% of residents (18% statewide). 30% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
38.2median age · IA 38.6
| Belmond | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 30% | 25% | 29% |
BelmondIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school32%
Some college22%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate6%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.5 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Belmond | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.7% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 16.1% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.8% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.6% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.4% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 5% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.5% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14.2% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 12.8% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.4% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 32.2% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.8% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.8% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.9% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.1% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,400, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In Belmond, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Belmond has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Belmond’s July high is 83°F, close to Iowa’s towns (84°F) and below U.S. towns (85°F).
35″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–28°
Spring36–57°
Summer59–81°
Fall38–60°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
A job hub: Belmond has 1.1 jobs for every working resident and draws in 746 commuters
20% of Belmond residents live below the poverty line. Jobs based in Belmond fell to 985 in 2023, 278 fewer than in 2013. Belmond’s median household income is $57,000.
27%work in town
| Belmond | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 20% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 27% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Belmond27%
Clarion12%
Garner4%
Iowa Falls2%
Webster City2%
18 mi
median commute distance
985
jobs based in Belmond
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthC+
On CDC estimates, Belmond is less healthy than 62% of U.S. towns
Belmond beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 14% of adults have diabetes in Belmond. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 5 have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Belmond.
38%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Belmond | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better22 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Belmond | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.9% | 77.8% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.4% | 3.3% |
Iowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond
0.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Drought leads a moderate hazard risk in Belmond
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 52% of U.S. communities.
48risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingCold waves
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsC+
Belmond has set aside 0.8% of its land for conservation
0.1 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. Only 7 of the 140 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of conserved land than Belmond.
0.8%conserved
0.8%
conserved · 14 of 1,802 acres
0.1 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Swimming Pool Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Belmond
19pages on Belmond
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Belmond; the nearest are
Ellsworth Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Iowa Falls28.1 mi$5,496 in-state tuitionIowa State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Ames56.7 mi$10,787 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Belmond residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
Famous people from Belmond
3 notable people were born in Belmond.
About Belmond
City in Iowa, USA
Belmond is a city in Wright County, Iowa, United States. It is located along U.S. Route 69, 14 miles (23 km) by road from Clarion, the county seat. The population was 2,463 in the 2020 census, a decline from 2,560 in 2000.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1881
- Area
- 2.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,178 ft
- ZIP code
- 50421
- Area code
- 641
Questions about Belmond
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Belmond, 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 A.
What is Belmond, IA known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Dick Farman and Duane Benson.