CentraliaIowaPopPlot, 2021
Centralia’s story
176 years in pictures
Census counts: 57 in 1940, 116 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 4 maps from 1901 on.
- 1850Centralia is settled
CentraliaIA
A town of 116, settled in 1850.
Population
116
2025 Census estimate · +0% since 2020
Median home value
$223K
Census ACS
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
37.3
years
Jobs based here
5
A commuter town
Is Centralia a good place to live?
Only 10 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower typical July afternoon high than Centralia. Centralia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
116 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 Centralia: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Centralia, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCountry Hills Water CorpNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers91% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Centralia’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 hereDubuque County AuditorDubuque County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP code5206852068 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 Centralia.
Work & commute
About half of Centralia’s working residents commute to Dubuque
Centralia’s mean commuting time stands at 19 minutes, where Iowa’s towns sit at 19 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Half of commuters travel less than 9 miles. The top destinations are Dubuque (46%), Peosta (10%) and Cedar Rapids (6%).
0%work in town
| Centralia | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $78,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Centralia0%
Dubuque46%
Peosta10%
Cedar Rapids6%
Cascade4%
9 mi
median commute distance
5
jobs based in Centralia
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
Centralia faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Centralia’s natural-hazard score from FEMA stands at 23 of 100, below both the Iowa town median (40 of 100) and the median of U.S. towns (44 of 100). FEMA puts 37% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 26% to tornadoes. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 77% of U.S. communities.
23risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Expect snowy winters and pleasant summers in Centralia
Expect July afternoons of 82° and January nights of 11°, with about 43 inches of snow a winter.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–30°
Spring37–57°
Summer60–80°
Fall40–60°
Oct 11
typical first frost
Apr 28
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More children than Iowa overall
A bachelor’s degree or higher: 28% of adults 25 and older, vs 31% across Iowa. Children under 18 are 30% of residents (23% statewide); people 65 and older are 13% of residents (18% statewide). Centralia’s age of the median resident comes in at 37.3 years.
37.3median age · IA 38.6
| Centralia | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 28% | 25% | 29% |
CentraliaIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
22%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school30%
Some college24%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s12%
Graduate16%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 13% and 90% women
The Census survey reached too few of Centralia’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±38.3 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Centralia | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 22.2% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.7% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.8% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.1% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.1% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.7% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.4% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.4% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.7% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.7% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.3% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.9% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 12.2% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 16.2% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 100, single groups can be off by several points
Health
A smaller share of adults in Centralia feel lonely than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
For adults 18 to 64 in Centralia, the share who have no health insurance is 5.5%. Only 6 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Centralia. Against the Iowa average, Centralia comes out ahead on 8 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 2.
| Centralia | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
8 better22 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Centralia | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.8% | 9.4% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.8% | 6.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11% | 8.7% |
Mercyone Dubuque Medical Center
8.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 20 attractions →Charles Mound and 10 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Centralia. Close and well known come first.
31 mi MountainCharles Mound
36 mi National MonumentEffigy Mounds National Monument57K visitors a year
9 mi MuseumNational Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium250K visitors a year
9 mi TheatreFive Flags Center21 mi MuseumChicago Athenaeum
14 mi MuseumNational Farm Toy MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Charles Mound: Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Effigy Mounds National Monument: National Park Service, Public domain · National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium: Dirk Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Five Flags Center: Dirk Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · National Farm Toy Museum: Madmaxmarchhare of English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Centralia
16pages on Centralia
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Centralia
Divine Word CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Epworth5.4 mi$15,600 tuitionEmmaus Bible CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Dubuque7.1 mi$20,800 tuitionWartburg Theological SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Dubuque7.4 mi
About 3 of every 100 Centralia residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Centralia for work
Where Centralia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
5jobs based in Centralia
0%of working residents work in town
9 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Centralia
City in Iowa, United States
Centralia is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 116 at the 2020 census, up 15 persons since the 2000 census and down 18 from the 2010.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1850
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,135 ft
Questions about Centralia
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Centralia, IA a good place to live?
Centralia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.