DedhamIowaPopPlot, 2021
Dedham’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 273 in 1890, a peak of 392 in 1940, 224 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1971 on.
- 1882Dedham is settled
DedhamIA
A town of 219, settled in 1882.
Population
219
2025 Census estimate · −1.8% since 2020
Typical home
$204K
+7% in a year
Household income
$100K
median
Median age
26.3
years
Jobs based here
14
A commuter town
Is Dedham a good place to live?
Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a higher share of households owning their home than Dedham. Dedham has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
219 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 Dedham: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dedham, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDedham Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Dedham’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 hereCarroll County AuditorCarroll County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5144051440 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 Dedham.
Who lives here
The median age in Dedham is lower than in most of Iowa or the rest of the country
Dedham’s median age is 26.3 years, where Iowa’s towns sit at 38.7 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. 10% of Dedham residents are 65 or older. 39% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
26.3median age · IA 38.6
| Dedham | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.3 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 10% | 19% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 39% | 25% | 29% |
DedhamIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
22%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school36%
Some college13%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s34%
Graduate6%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 41% and 64% women
The Census survey reached too few of Dedham’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±11.5 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Dedham | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 16.8% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 19.6% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12.5% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.4% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 21.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7.5% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 6.1% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 3.6% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.8% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.1% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 36.4% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 13.3% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.1% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 33.6% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.6% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 200, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commute
A smaller share of working residents in Dedham work locally than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
1.7% of Dedham working residents work locally, below both Iowa’s towns (31%) and U.S. towns (8%). Dedham’s median household income is $100,000. The top destinations are Coon Rapids (25%), Carroll (11%) and Omaha (4%).
2%work in town
| Dedham | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.7% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $100,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Dedham2%
Coon Rapids25%
Carroll11%
Omaha4%
Jefferson3%
13 mi
median commute distance
14
jobs based in Dedham
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Dedham, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Dedham has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 10° and about 32 inches of snow falls in a winter.
32″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–32°
Spring37–60°
Summer60–82°
Fall39–62°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Low risk in Dedham, with tornadoes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 64% of U.S. communities.
36risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
TornadoesInland floodingHail
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Housing
A typical Dedham home is worth about $204K
The typical Dedham home is worth about $204,000, up 7% in a year, 14% below the Iowa typical home.
$204KZillow home value
Typical home value
Dedham$204K
Iowa$237K
+7%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Health
How healthy Dedham is
Dedham tracks Iowa closely on all 32 CDC measures. 22% of adults binge drink in Dedham. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 6 have a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Dedham.
| Dedham | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 17% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
St. Anthony Regional Hospital & Nursing Home
10.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dedham
15pages on Dedham
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Dedham; the nearest are
Iowa Central Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fort Dodge51.2 mi$5,496 in-state tuitionIowa State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Ames60.9 mi$10,787 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Dedham residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Dedham for work
Where Dedham’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
14jobs based in Dedham
2%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Dedham
City in Iowa, US
Dedham is a city in Carroll County, Iowa, United States. The population was 224 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1883
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,332 ft
- ZIP code
- 51440
Questions about Dedham
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dedham, IA a good place to live?
Dedham has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.