Farley Tower 1, 2008
Farley’s story
169 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1857Farley is settled
FarleyIA
A town of 1,718, settled in 1857. Public schools that outperform most of Iowa.
Photo: Corey Coyle · CC BY 3.0
Population
1,718
2025 Census estimate · −2.9% since 2020
Typical home
$315K
+4.5% in a year
Household income
$97K
median
Median age
34.3
years
Jobs based here
1,173
Balanced
Is Farley a good place to live?
Farley’s best subject grades are an A for schools and an A− for health and incomes; its weakest is a C for walkability. Only 4 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower July high than Farley. Farley has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Farley stand out
Where Farley beats most towns.
A growing town
Farley has grown 12% since 2010
1,537 counted in 2010 and 1,766 in 2020; an estimated 1,718 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Farley grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Farley is from typical.
SchoolsAOpen →HealthMercyone Dyersville Medical Center 6.5 miles awayA−Open →Jobs & income$97K median household income; 1,173 jobs based hereA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 25% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.8 of 20; 2.3% of households have no car; 0.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trailC+Open →HistoryCOpen →Civic life5.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 82° summer afternoons, 31″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here24% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Farley: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Farley, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterFarley Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Farley’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 hereDubuque County AuditorDubuque County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2026
ZIP code5204652046 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 Farley.
SchoolsA
Farley’s public schools outperform 87% of Iowa districts
Its public schools are run by the Western Dubuque Community School District. One of its 3 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
87%of IA districts it outscoresASchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drexler Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 639 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
Residents of Farley are healthier than 82% of U.S. towns
Farley beats the Iowa average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 24% of Farley adults binge drink, against 20% in Iowa’s towns and 16% across U.S. towns. 26% of adults have high blood pressure in Farley.
82%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Farley | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 20% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.2% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
12 better19 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Farley | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4.8% | 6.6% |
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 8.2% | 11.2% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 74.2% | 77.8% |
Mercyone Dyersville Medical Center
6.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B+
Farley’s typical home value is about $315K
The typical Farley home is worth about $315,000, up 4.5% in a year, 33% above the Iowa typical home.
$315KZillow home value
| Farley | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $991 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
Farley$315K
Iowa$237K
+4.5%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Low risk in Farley, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 75% of U.S. communities.
25risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Farley, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Farley has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Farley’s January low is 11°F, where Iowa’s towns sit at 12°F and U.S. towns at 22°F.
31″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–29°
Spring37–57°
Summer60–80°
Fall40–59°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 28
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More children than Iowa overall
Children under 18 are 30% of residents (23% statewide). Farley’s median age is 34.3 years. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 6 have a higher share of children under 18 than Farley.
34.3median age · IA 38.6
| Farley | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 30% | 23% | 22% |
| Median age | 34.3 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 19% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 24% | 25% | 29% |
FarleyIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
19%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school39%
Some college18%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s15%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 90 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.3 points). Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Farley | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 19% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.3% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.9% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.8% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.1% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 8.7% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.1% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.6% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.5% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.4% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 38.5% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 18.4% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.1% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 15.2% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.4% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,700, single groups can be off by several points
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
About one in three of Farley’s working residents commute to Dubuque
Most working residents leave Farley for work: only 13% work in town. 3.6% of Farley residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Dubuque (31%), Dyersville (6%) and Epworth (4%).
13%work in town
| Farley | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $97,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Farley13%
Dubuque31%
Dyersville6%
Epworth4%
Cedar Rapids4%
17 mi
median commute distance
1,173
jobs based in Farley
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 32% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 1,036 acres
0.5 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Farley City Park | 0.2 mi | 18 |
| 2. Marolf Memorial Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 22 attractions →Effigy Mounds National Monument and 10 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Farley. Close and well known come first.
35 mi National MonumentEffigy Mounds National Monument57K visitors a year
39 mi MountainCharles Mound
18 mi MuseumNational Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium250K visitors a year
6 mi MuseumNational Farm Toy Museum
18 mi TheatreFive Flags Center30 mi MuseumChicago AthenaeumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Effigy Mounds National Monument: National Park Service, Public domain · Charles Mound: Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0 · National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium: Dirk Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · National Farm Toy Museum: Madmaxmarchhare of English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5 · Five Flags Center: Dirk Hansen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Farley
18pages on Farley
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Farley
About 3 of every 100 Farley residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Farley
City in Iowa, United States
Farley is a city in Dubuque County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Dubuque, Iowa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,766 at the time of the 2020 census, up from 1,334 in 2000. Farley is the seventh-largest town in Dubuque County, recently passed by Peosta, Iowa. Farley is home to a 3/8 mile dirt race track, 300 Raceway.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1879
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,119 ft
- ZIP code
- 52046
- Area code
- 563
Questions about Farley
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Farley, IA a good place to live?
Public schools that outperform most of Iowa.
Is Farley, IA expensive?
Not for the area. That is 4.1 years of the area's median household income ($77,630 across the Dubuque, IA metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.