ClareIowaPopPlot, 2021
Clare’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 374 in 1900, 136 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1979 on.
- 1882Clare is settled
ClareIA
A town of 134, settled in 1882.
Population
134
2025 Census estimate · −0.7% since 2020
Typical home
$252K
+9.5% in a year
Household income
$80K
median
Median age
33.5
years
Jobs based here
35
A commuter town
Is Clare 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 Clare. Clare has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
134 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 Clare: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clare, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterClare Water DepartmentNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Clare’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 hereWebster County AuditorWebster County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5052450524 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 Clare.
Work & commute
Fewer of Clare’s residents live below the poverty line than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
Clare’s typical journey to work stands at 21 minutes, above Iowa’s towns (19 minutes) but below U.S. towns (25 minutes). The top destinations are Fort Dodge (53%), Dickens (2%) and Newell (2%). Half of commuters travel less than 11 miles.
0%work in town
| Clare | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 1.6% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 21 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $80,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Clare0%
Fort Dodge53%
Dickens2%
Newell2%
Britt2%
11 mi
median commute distance
35
jobs based in Clare
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
39″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–29°
Spring37–58°
Summer60–81°
Fall39–60°
Oct 8
typical first frost
Apr 28
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Clare is
Among adults in Clare, 35% sleep under 7 hours, where Iowa’s towns sit at 32% and U.S. towns at 36%. CDC measures, 32 in all: Clare beats Iowa on 6 and trails on 1. 22% of adults binge drink locally.
| Clare | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 19% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
6 better25 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Clare | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.1% | 12% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.4% | 6.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.1% | 8.7% |
Trinity Regional Medical Center
10.3 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Clare has a moderate natural-hazard risk, chiefly from drought
Expected losses in Clare break down as 32% from drought and 24% from inland flooding. On expected storm and flood damage, Clare sits below nearly three fifths of U.S. communities. Federal aid has come to Clare households in 4 declared disasters; the latest was in 2010.
41risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingTornadoes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Housing
Clare stands out in Iowa and nationally, with the median rent lower than most
Home values are up 9.5% over the year to September 2026. The share of households in Clare who are owner-occupiers: 75%.
$252KZillow home value
| Clare | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $656 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 75% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
Clare$252K
Iowa$237K
+9.5%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Clare
15pages on Clare
The big questions
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Clare
About 1 of every 100 Clare residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Clare for work
Where Clare’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
35jobs based in Clare
0%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Clare
City in Iowa, United States
Clare is a city in Webster County, Iowa, United States. The population was 136 at the 2020 census. Clare was settled c. 1882 by immigrants from County Clare, Ireland. Clare is also home to a United States post office on West Front St.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1882
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,155 ft
- ZIP code
- 50524
Questions about Clare
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Clare, IA a good place to live?
Clare has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.