BristowIowaPopPlot, 2021
Bristow’s story
150 years in pictures
Census counts: 198 in 1880, a peak of 318 in 1940, 145 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1972 on.
- 1876Bristow is settled
BristowIA
A town of 135, settled in 1876.
Population
135
2025 Census estimate · −4.9% since 2020
Median home value
$65K
Census ACS
Household income
$108K
median
Median age
43.4
years
Jobs based here
40
A commuter town
Is Bristow a good place to live?
Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Bristow. Bristow’s trail density is 1.1 miles per square mile, above both the Iowa town median (0.3) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Bristow has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
135 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 Bristow: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Bristow, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBristow Muni Water Supply4 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Bristow’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 hereButler County AuditorButler County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5061150611 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 Bristow.
Work & commute
Bristow stands out in Iowa and nationally: a smaller share of its working residents work locally
1.2% of working residents work locally in Bristow, where Iowa’s towns sit at 31% and U.S. towns at 8%. 5.1% of Bristow residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Cedar Falls (9%), Hampton (5%) and Waverly (5%).
1%work in town
| Bristow | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.2% | 31% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Bristow1%
Cedar Falls9%
Hampton5%
Waverly5%
Waterloo5%
27 mi
median commute distance
40
jobs based in Bristow
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Bristow
Bristow has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Bristow is 83°F.
38″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter13–29°
Spring36–57°
Summer60–81°
Fall39–60°
Oct 8
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
More of Bristow’s adults have high blood pressure than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
42% of adults have high blood pressure in Bristow. Only 8 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Bristow. 43% of adults have obesity in Bristow.
| Bristow | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 12% | 12% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better17 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Bristow | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81% | 77.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.3% | 6.9% |
Franklin General Hospital
14.3 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Bristow
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 54% of U.S. communities.
46risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtCold waves
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Outdoors
Bristow has set aside 0% of its land for conservation
1.0 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 602 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Bristow
18pages on Bristow
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Bristow; the nearest are
Wartburg CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Waverly21.8 mi$26,250 tuitionEllsworth Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Iowa Falls24.9 mi$5,496 in-state tuitionUniversity of Northern IowaUniversity or college · Public · Cedar Falls29 mi$9,936 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Bristow residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Bristow for work
Where Bristow’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
40jobs based in Bristow
1%of working residents work in town
27 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Bristow
City in Iowa, USA
Bristow is a city in Butler County, Iowa, United States. The population was 145 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,037 ft
- ZIP code
- 50611
- Area code
- 641
Questions about Bristow
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Bristow, IA a good place to live?
Bristow has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Bristow, IA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Ed Yost and W. Ray Johnston.