Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Fertile’s median age is 59.6 years, above both the Iowa town median (38.7 years) and the median of U.S. towns (40.5 years). No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Fertile. Rhodes Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places. Fertile has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 207 in 1910, 305 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1972 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Fertile, 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 Fertile.
At 27 minutes, Fertile’s average trip to work is against 19 minutes in Iowa’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Since 2013, Fertile has lost 25 jobs, to 28 in 2023. Most working residents leave Fertile for work: only 1% work in town.
| Fertile | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Fertile has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Fertile’s July high is 82°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The typical Fertile home is worth about $196,000, up 5.7% in a year, 17% below the Iowa typical home. 87% of households own their home in Fertile.
| Fertile | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 87% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $858 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Fertile beats the Iowa average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 15% of Fertile adults report frequent mental distress. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 8 have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Fertile.
| Fertile | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 16% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 21% | 23% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| What stands out | Fertile | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.2% | 12% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.2% | 8.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 51% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. Among 140 Iowa towns, just 4 have a lower share of conserved land than Fertile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Storre Wildlife Management Area | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
1 within 15 miles of the center of Fertile
About 1 of every 100 Fertile residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
Where Fertile’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Iowa, USA
Fertile is a city in Worth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 305 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Fertile has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.