Benton, IA, 2019
Benton’s story
136 years in pictures
Census counts: 192 in 1900, a peak of 246 in 1920, 39 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1940 on.
- 1890Benton is settled
BentonIA
A town of 40, settled in 1890.
Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
40
2025 Census estimate · −2.4% since 2020
Household income
$51K
median
Median age
58.5
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Benton a good place to live?
Benton’s median age is 58.5 years, where Iowa’s towns sit at 38.7 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a higher share of households owning their home than Benton. Benton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
40 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 Benton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Benton, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet4 providers83% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Benton’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 hereRinggold County AuditorRinggold County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code5083550835 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 Benton.
Climate
Benton has four seasons and pleasant summers
Benton has cold winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 14° and about 21 inches of snow falls in a winter.
21″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–36°
Spring40–62°
Summer62–84°
Fall41–63°
Oct 12
typical first frost
Apr 25
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Drought leads a high hazard risk in Benton
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 67% of U.S. communities.
67risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingCold waves
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
A larger share of adults have high blood pressure in Benton than in most of Iowa or the rest of the country
43% of Benton adults have high blood pressure, against 35% in Iowa’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. 18% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Benton. No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Benton.
| Benton | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 35% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 83% | 78% | 79% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
10 better15 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Benton | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 5.8% | 9.4% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.1% | 6.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 14.1% | 8.7% |
Ringgold County Hospital
7.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Benton
14pages on Benton
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Benton; the nearest are
Graceland University-LamoniUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Lamoni23.6 mi$20,950 tuitionSouthwestern Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Creston25.5 mi$8,064 in-state tuitionNorthwest Missouri State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Maryville, MO36.7 mi$10,611 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Benton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Benton
City in Iowa, USA
Benton is a city in Ringgold County, Iowa, United States. The population was 39 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,083 ft
- ZIP code
- 50835
- Area code
- 641
Questions about Benton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Benton, IA a good place to live?
Benton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.