Estherville spent more per resident in 2022 than 98% of similar cities
Estherville’s city government spent $8.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $1,397 per resident. Water and other utilities ($7.4 million) are counted separately.
What stands out about how Estherville is run
Read from the city’s budget and official records.
$2,290 per resident in 2022: more than 98% of them
Estherville’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($2,290 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,166, and the middle half spent $1,027–$1,378. Estherville spent more than 98% of them.
Includes sewer and trash ($2.3 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Estherville itself left out).
About $1,397 per resident a year, or $3.83 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: sewer & trash, at 26%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending is down 37% since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Estherville reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $2,290 · 2023: $1,485 · 2024: $1,397.
full-time in March 2025, down from 54 in 2022.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $1,754 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.73% of the home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Estherville’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Estherville’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Estherville →
Who’s in charge in Estherville
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
Estherville’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The city posts agendas and minutes on cityofestherville.org ↗.
One full-time city employee for every 118 residents
On the payroll in March 2025, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (5,800).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2025
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District
Estherville’s K–12 school district, shared with Dolliver, Gruver, Wallingford, Superior. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $14,188 per pupil, $8,849 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Iowa districts overall: 43% local, 49% state, 8% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Estherville voted in 2024
Official results for Estherville’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican66.4%1,764 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat32.6%866 votesOthers: 1.0% (27 votes).
Most votes in Estherville: Donald J Trump
Emmet County: Trump 71.5%, Harris 27.5% · Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%
of Estherville’s 4,669 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Iowa: 70%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in the district: Randy Feenstra
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Estherville, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estherville | 66.4% | 32.6% | 1.0% | 2,657 |
| Emmet County | 71.5% | 27.5% | 1.0% | 4,786 |
| Iowa | 55.7% | 42.5% | 1.8% | 1,663,506 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Estherville.
- 1Your cityMayor & councilOfficials: cityofestherville.org ↗
- 2Iowa HouseState representatives
- 3Iowa SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Iowa
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
Reach Estherville’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Estherville’s government
How much does Estherville spend per resident?
About $1,397 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $2,290 was more than 98% of 91 Iowa cities of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Estherville?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $1,754 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.73% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.39% across Iowa. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofestherville.org.
Who runs Estherville’s government?
See cityofestherville.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Estherville yet.
How did Estherville vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 66.4%, Kamala D Harris 32.6% (2,657 votes, official results). Emmet County: Trump 71.5%, Harris 27.5%. Iowa: Trump 55.7%, Harris 42.5%.
How many people work for Estherville?
49 full-time and 12 part-time employees in March 2025, with a March payroll of $292,479 (about $3.5M a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Estherville in the state legislature?
State Senate District 5 (Dave Rowley) and State House District 9 (Henry Stone). The House district also covers 22 other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
Ask neighbors about Estherville’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →