Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Emmetsburg gives you more for your money than most places: homes are within reach, about $171K for a typical one, or 2.3 years of the county’s $73K median household income. It grades A overall, ranked 32nd of 140 in Iowa. On the plus side, it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 90% of U.S. towns. 43% of working residents work locally in Emmetsburg, above both Iowa’s towns (31%) and U.S. towns (8%). Of the 137 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower median rent than Emmetsburg. Emmetsburg's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 87% of U.S. towns.
Where Emmetsburg beats most towns.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Emmetsburg is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 44 in 1870, 3,706 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and a map from 1980 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Emmetsburg, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Emmetsburg.
Emmetsburg pairs an A overall with homes cheaper than the Iowa norm, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and sees little violent crime.
Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2025, 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
The violent crime rate in Emmetsburg is 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
| Emmetsburg | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.3 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.4 per 1,000 residents | 7.4 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Its public schools are run by the Emmetsburg Community School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 293 | B+ |
| Emmetsburg High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 235 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
Emmetsburg grades A overall with a typical home of about $171K, below the Iowa typical value; only 10 of the 55 Iowa towns graded A− or better can say that. At 2.3 years of the county’s $73K median household income, the typical home (about $171K) costs less against local pay than in 81% of Iowa towns; that ratio is one input to its A+ for cost of living.
The typical Emmetsburg home is worth about $171,000, up 0.9% in a year, 28% below the Iowa typical home.
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 69% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Emmetsburg since 2024.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Against the 7,681 U.S. towns with household incomes like Emmetsburg’s, it is healthier than 61%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income.
Emmetsburg beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 39% of adults have high blood pressure in Emmetsburg.
| Emmetsburg | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 12% | 12% |
| What stands out | Emmetsburg | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.1% | 77.8% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.4% | 3.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Emmetsburg has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 8° and about 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Emmetsburg’s average trip to work is 14 minutes. Since 2013, Emmetsburg has lost 290 jobs, to 1,751 in 2023. 15% of Emmetsburg residents live below the poverty line.
| Emmetsburg | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 14 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $56,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
0.1 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Kearny State Park, at 45 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kearny State Park | — | 45 |
| 2. Sewell Park | — | 20 |
| 3. Harrison Park | — | 8 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Emmetsburg; the nearest are
About 5 of every 100 Emmetsburg residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Iowa.
14 notable people were born in Emmetsburg.
City in Iowa, USA
Emmetsburg is a city in Palo Alto County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,706 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Palo Alto County. Emmetsburg is located around the southern bay of Five Island Lake.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
By most measures, yes. Emmetsburg grades A overall, better than 87% of U.S. towns and #32 of 140 in Iowa. It grades C for health, B+ for safety and B+ for schools.
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+.
14 notable people were born here, including Loren Meyer and Paul Emerick.
