BurtIowaPopPlot, 2021
Burt’s story
145 years in pictures
Census counts: 504 in 1900, a peak of 689 in 1980, 418 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1972 on.
- 1881Burt is settled
BurtIA
A town of 399, settled in 1881.
Population
399
2025 Census estimate · −4.1% since 2020
Typical home
$118K
−3.9% in a year
Household income
$67K
median
Median age
40.4
years
Jobs based here
35
A commuter town
Is Burt a good place to live?
30% of residents are 65 or older in Burt, where Iowa’s towns sit at 19% and U.S. towns at 18%. Of the 138 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower median rent than Burt. Burt has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
399 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 Burt: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Burt, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of BurtEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterBurt Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Burt’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 hereKossuth County AuditorKossuth County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code5052250522 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 Burt.
Housing
Homes in Burt are worth about $118K, by Zillow’s estimate
Among 141 Iowa towns, just 7 have a higher share of homes lived in by their owners than Burt. Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home lost 3.9% of its value.
$118KZillow home value
Typical home value
Burt$118K
Iowa$237K
−3.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commute
A smaller share of working residents work locally in Burt than in most of Iowa or the rest of the country
Half commute less than 9 miles. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Burt dropped by 316, to 35. Also worth knowing: the town’s average trip to work stands at 19 minutes, close to Iowa’s towns (19 minutes) and below U.S. towns (25 minutes). The top destinations are Algona (24%), Bancroft (18%) and Swea City (3%).
2%work in town
| Burt | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.7% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Burt2%
Algona24%
Bancroft18%
Swea City3%
Fort Dodge2%
9 mi
median commute distance
35
jobs based in Burt
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Burt has four seasons and pleasant summers
A winter brings about 37 inches of snow, with January nights at 7° and July afternoons at 83°.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–28°
Spring36–57°
Summer60–81°
Fall38–59°
Oct 6
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Burt faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 62% of U.S. communities. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Burt after 5 declared disasters, most recently in 2019. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 33% come from inland flooding and 21% from cold waves.
38risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesDrought
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
How healthy Burt is
31% of adults feel lonely in Burt. The town beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 6 have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Burt. Two figures for adults here: 39% have high blood pressure, 16% smoke cigarettes.
| Burt | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better23 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Burt | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.6% | 77.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.7% | 6.6% |
Kossuth Regional Health Center
8.6 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Burt
16pages on Burt
The big questions
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Burt; the nearest are
Waldorf UniversityUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Forest City29.5 mi$25,978 tuitionIowa Lakes Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Estherville33.9 mi$7,392 in-state tuitionMinnesota State University-MankatoUniversity or college · Public · Mankato, MN66.4 mi$9,572 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Burt residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Burt for work
Where Burt’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
35jobs based in Burt
2%of working residents work in town
9 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Burt
City in Iowa, USA
Burt is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 418 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1881
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,181 ft
- ZIP code
- 50522
Questions about Burt
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Burt, IA a good place to live?
Burt has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Burt, IA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Bob Thaves and Chuck Soderberg.