DerbyIowaPopPlot, 2021
Derby’s story
154 years in pictures
Census counts: 174 in 1880, a peak of 334 in 1920, 90 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1934 on.
- 1872Derby is settled
DerbyIA
A town of 90, settled in 1872.
Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
90
2025 Census estimate · +1.1% since 2020
Median home value
$93K
Census ACS
Household income
$56K
median
Median age
41.8
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Derby a good place to live?
Derby’s average trip to work is 37 minutes, above both the Iowa town median (19 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Derby. Derby has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
90 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 Derby: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Derby, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRathbun Regional Water Assn (Rathbun)No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Derby’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 hereLucas County AuditorLucas County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code5006850068 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 Derby.
Climate
Derby has four seasons and pleasant summers
Derby has cold winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 14° and about 24 inches of snow falls in a winter.
24″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–35°
Spring39–61°
Summer62–83°
Fall41–63°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Derby is
Derby beats the Iowa average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 17% of Derby adults smoke cigarettes, against 15% in Iowa’s towns and 14% across U.S. towns. 38% of Derby adults have high blood pressure.
| Derby | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better30 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Derby | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with heart disease | 8.3% | 6.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.3% | 8.7% |
Lucas County Health Center
10.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Derby faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by drought
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities.
55risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
3.2%conserved
3.2%
conserved · 5 of 162 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cinder Path Bike Trail | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Derby
18pages on Derby
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Derby; the nearest are
Simpson CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Indianola30.6 mi$47,656 tuitionSouthwestern Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Creston49.2 mi$8,064 in-state tuitionTruman State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Kirksville, MO68.8 mi$9,838 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Derby residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Derby
City in Iowa, USA
Derby is a city in Lucas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 90 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,079 ft
- ZIP code
- 50068
Questions about Derby
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Derby, IA a good place to live?
Derby has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.