Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 353, settled in 1873.
No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Garrison. Garrison 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: 255 in 1880, a peak of 482 in 1900, 344 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 1982 and 2 maps from 1971 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Garrison, 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 Garrison.
1.2% of working residents work locally in Garrison, against 31% in Iowa’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. Since 2013, Garrison has added 66 jobs, to 78 in 2023. Garrison’s average trip to work is 30 minutes.
| Garrison | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.2% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 20% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Garrison has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Garrison’s July high is 83°F, near the Iowa town median (84°F) and below the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The typical Garrison home is worth about $282,000, up 13.7% in a year, 19% above the Iowa typical home. The median rent in Garrison is $775 a month.
| Garrison | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $775 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 70% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Garrison beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 21% of Garrison adults binge drink. Only 9 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Garrison.
| Garrison | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
| What stands out | Garrison | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.1% | 11.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
None within 15 miles of Garrison; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Garrison residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
Where Garrison’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Iowa, United States
Garrison is a city in Benton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 344 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was named for the farmer, Nelson Garrison, who had the post office in his home west of town. He owned the property in 1872.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Garrison has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.