DysartIowaPopPlot, 2021
Dysart’s story
153 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1873Dysart is settled
DysartIA
A town of 1,268, settled in 1873. 57% more nonprofits per person than the typical Iowa town.
Population
1,268
2025 Census estimate · −1% since 2020
Typical home
$240K
+3.3% in a year
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
39.7
years
Jobs based here
217
A commuter town
Is Dysart a good place to live?
The best of Dysart’s subject grades are an A+ for safety and civic life and an A for cost of living; the weakest is a C for incomes. Only 4 of Iowa’s 127 towns score higher on safety. Only 14 of Iowa’s 271 towns score higher on civic life. Dysart has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Dysart stand out
Where Dysart beats most towns.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
Dysart11.9
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical IA town7.5
Civic lifeA+
57% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Iowa town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Dysart0.8
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
SafetyA+
67% less violent crime than IA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
Typical home value
Dysart$240K
Iowa$237K
Cost of livingA
3.4 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 87% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Small town
1,268 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Dysart grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Dysart is from typical.
SafetyA+Open →Cost of livingAOpen →Jobs & income$68K median household incomeCOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 35% of U.S. communities; drought tops the listB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.8 of 20; 2.3% of households have no car; 3.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →HealthVirginia Gay Hospital 15.1 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksC−Open →History1 notable person born hereB−Open →Civic life11.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.7; 26% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Dysart: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dysart, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of DysartEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterDysart Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Dysart’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 hereTama County AuditorTama County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5222452224 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 Dysart.
SafetyA+
Dysart reports less crime per resident than 96% of U.S. towns
Dysart’s property crime rate is 0.8 per 1,000 residents, below both the Iowa town median (7.3) and the median of U.S. towns (9.9).
96%of U.S. towns report more crimeA+Safety Grade
| Dysart | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.8 per 1,000 residents | 7.3 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.8 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Dysart0.8
Iowa2.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Dysart0.8
Iowa12.1
U.S.15.5
96th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
1
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB+
Dysart’s public schools outperform 69% of Iowa districts
Its public schools are run by the Union Community School District. Its two schools are below.
69%of IA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dysart-Geneseo Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 219 | A− |
| Union Middle SchoolTop results in townGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 194 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Dysart’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Dysart for work: only 8% work in town. Since 2013, Dysart has lost 33 jobs, to 217 in 2023. Dysart’s average trip to work is 23 minutes, against 19 minutes in Iowa’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns.
8%work in town
| Dysart | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 7.9% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $68,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Dysart8%
Waterloo15%
Cedar Falls9%
Cedar Rapids5%
Traer4%
26 mi
median commute distance
217
jobs based in Dysart
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 60% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Dysart
Dysart has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Dysart is 83°F.
34″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–30°
Spring37–58°
Summer60–81°
Fall39–61°
Oct 9
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Drought leads a low hazard risk in Dysart
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 65% of U.S. communities.
35risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingStrong wind
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
An age mix much like Iowa’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Iowa average. 25% of Dysart residents are under 18. 27% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
39.7median age · IA 38.6
| Dysart | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 25% | 23% | 22% |
| Median age | 39.7 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
DysartIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school36%
Some college18%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate10%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.2 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Dysart | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.8% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.4% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.5% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.3% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 8% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.8% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.1% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 35.5% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.8% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.1% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16.3% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.2% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,300, single groups can be off by several points
HealthB−
Residents of Dysart are less healthy than 54% of U.S. towns
Dysart beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 5. 19% of adults binge drink in Dysart.
46%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Dysart | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 21% | 23% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 32% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better26 too close to call5 worse
| What stands out | Dysart | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.9% | 77.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.4% | 6.6% |
Virginia Gay Hospital
15.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade A
A typical Dysart home is worth about $240K
The typical Dysart home is worth about $240,000, up 3.3% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home.
$240KZillow home value
Typical home value
Dysart$240K
Iowa$237K
+3.3%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dysart
19pages on Dysart
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 69% of IA districts · 2 schoolsSafetyA+0.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB−Better than IA on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$240K typical home · up 3.3% in a yearWork & commuteC$68K median household income · 217 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 35% of U.S. communities · drought
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Dysart; the nearest are
Hawkeye Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Waterloo17.9 mi$6,525 in-state tuitionUniversity of Northern IowaUniversity or college · Public · Cedar Falls24.9 mi$9,936 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Dysart residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
92% of working residents leave Dysart for work
Where Dysart’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
217jobs based in Dysart
8%of working residents work in town
26 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Dysart
City in Iowa, United States
Dysart is a city in Tama County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,281 at the 2020 census. The Mayor of Dysart is currently Tim Glenn.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 971 ft
- ZIP code
- 52224
Questions about Dysart
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dysart, IA a good place to live?
57% more nonprofits per person than the typical Iowa town.
Is Dysart, IA expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.