CurlewIA
A town of 38, settled in 1883.
Is Curlew a good place to live?
No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Curlew. Curlew has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
38 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Curlew: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Curlew, and how to reach them.
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 Curlew.
In Curlew, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Curlew has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 8° and about 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
A larger share of adults in Curlew have high blood pressure than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
41% of adults have high blood pressure in Curlew, above both Iowa’s towns (35%) and U.S. towns (35%). 42% of adults have obesity in Curlew. Only 4 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Curlew.
| Curlew | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 35% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 33% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 38% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 21% | 23% |
| What stands out | Curlew | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.7% | 77.8% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 88.1% | 84.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.8% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Curlew faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 55% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Everything we know about Curlew
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Curlew; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Curlew residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Curlew
City in Iowa, USA
Curlew is a city in Palo Alto County, Iowa, United States. The population was 37 at the time of the 2020 census. Curlew originated in 1882 with the construction of the Des Moines and Fort Dodge Railroad in the area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,240 ft
- ZIP code
- 50527
Questions about Curlew
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Curlew, IA a good place to live?
Curlew has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.