EllsworthIowaPopPlot, 2021
Ellsworth’s story
145 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1881Ellsworth is settled
EllsworthIA
A town of 496, settled in 1881.
Population
496
2025 Census estimate · −2.2% since 2020
Typical home
$220K
+7.4% in a year
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
36.4
years
Jobs based here
209
Balanced
Is Ellsworth a good place to live?
Only 2 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of residents below the poverty line than Ellsworth. Ellsworth has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
496 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 Ellsworth: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ellsworth, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of EllsworthEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterEllsworth Public Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Ellsworth’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 hereHamilton County AuditorHamilton County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5007550075 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 Ellsworth.
Climate
In Ellsworth, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Ellsworth has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Ellsworth’s July high is 83°F, where Iowa’s towns sit at 84°F and U.S. towns at 85°F.
32″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter13–30°
Spring37–58°
Summer60–81°
Fall39–61°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Ellsworth
Most working residents leave Ellsworth for work: only 3% work in town. Since 2013, Ellsworth has added 94 jobs, to 209 in 2023. Ellsworth’s average trip to work is 24 minutes, above Iowa’s towns (19 minutes) and close to U.S. towns (25 minutes).
3%work in town
| Ellsworth | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Ellsworth3%
Ames22%
Story City9%
Webster City7%
Jewell Junction7%
19 mi
median commute distance
209
jobs based in Ellsworth
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
How healthy Ellsworth is
Ellsworth beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 22% of Ellsworth adults binge drink.
| Ellsworth | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 36% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better31 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Ellsworth | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults seeing a dentist | 71.4% | 66.8% |
Van Diest Medical Center
15.4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Homes in Ellsworth are worth about $220K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Ellsworth home is worth about $220,000, up 7.4% in a year, 7% below the Iowa typical home. The median rent in Ellsworth is $875 a month.
$220KZillow home value
| Ellsworth | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 78% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $875 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Ellsworth$220K
Iowa$237K
+7.4%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Ellsworth
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 52% of U.S. communities.
52risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Outdoors
Ellsworth has set aside 0% of its land for conservation
0.1 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 564 acres
0.1 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ellsworth City Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ellsworth
18pages on Ellsworth
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ellsworth; the nearest are
Iowa State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Ames19.9 mi$10,787 in-state tuitionEllsworth Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Iowa Falls22 mi$5,496 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Ellsworth residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Ellsworth
City in Iowa, USA
Ellsworth is a city in Hamilton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 508 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,083 ft
- ZIP code
- 50075
Questions about Ellsworth
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ellsworth, IA a good place to live?
Ellsworth has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Ellsworth, IA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Franklin Patterson and Loyd Haberly.