Dow House · National Register of Historic Places
Dow City’s story
148 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1878Dow City is settled
Dow CityIA
A town of 471, settled in 1878.
Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
471
2025 Census estimate · −2.9% since 2020
Typical home
$92K
+6.9% in a year
Household income
$48K
median
Median age
32.6
years
Jobs based here
76
A commuter town
Is Dow City 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 Dow City. Dow House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Dow City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
471 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 Dow City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dow City, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDow City Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers72% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Dow City’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 hereCrawford County AuditorCrawford County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5152851528 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 Dow City.
Housing
Dow City’s typical home value is about $92K
The typical Dow City home is worth about $92,000, up 6.9% in a year, 61% below the Iowa typical home. Dow City’s median rent is $747 a month, below both Iowa’s towns ($911 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). 65% of Dow City households own their home.
$92KZillow home value
| Dow City | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $747 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 65% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
Dow City$92K
Iowa$237K
+6.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Schools
The schools Dow City’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Boyer Valley Community School District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boyer Valley Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 208 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts
Work & commute
A smaller share of working residents work locally in Dow City than in most of Iowa or the rest of the country
1.7% of Dow City working residents work locally, below both the Iowa town median (31%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). 21% of residents live below the poverty line in Dow City. Only 5 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower median household income than Dow City.
2%work in town
| Dow City | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 21% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.7% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $48,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Dow City2%
Denison24%
Dunlap6%
Charter Oak5%
Carroll3%
23 mi
median commute distance
76
jobs based in Dow City
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Dow City
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 74% of U.S. communities.
74risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Dow City
Dow City has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 11° and about 35 inches of snow falls in a winter.
35″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–32°
Spring37–60°
Summer61–83°
Fall39–62°
Oct 11
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Dow City is
Dow City beats the Iowa average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4.
| Dow City | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 26% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better28 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Dow City | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with heart disease | 8.2% | 6.6% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4% | 3.3% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.1% | 8.7% |
Crawford County Memorial Hospital
9.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dow City
18pages on Dow City
The big questions
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Dow City; the nearest are
Nebraska Indian Community CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Macy, NE45.9 mi$4,080 in-state tuitionIowa Western Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Council Bluffs47.9 mi$6,930 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Dow City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Dow City for work
Where Dow City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
76jobs based in Dow City
2%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Dow City
City in Iowa, United States
Dow City is a city in Crawford County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 485 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
- 1,142 ft
- ZIP code
- 51528
Questions about Dow City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dow City, IA a good place to live?
Dow City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.