GilmanIowaPopPlot, 2021
Gilman’s story
155 years in pictures
Census counts: 553 in 1880, 542 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and a map from 1980 on.
- 1871Gilman is settled
GilmanIA
A town of 527, settled in 1871.
Population
527
2025 Census estimate · −3.1% since 2020
Typical home
$270K
+15.1% in a year
Household income
$101K
median
Median age
39.5
years
Jobs based here
72
A commuter town
Is Gilman a good place to live?
No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a higher average trip to work than Gilman. Gilman has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
527 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Gilman: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Gilman, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGilman Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Gilman’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 hereMarshall County AuditorMarshall County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2026
ZIP code5010650106 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 Gilman.
Work & commute
Gilman stands out in Iowa and nationally: a smaller share of its working residents work locally
0.3% of Gilman working residents work locally, below both Iowa’s towns (31%) and U.S. towns (8%). The median household income in Gilman is $101,000. The top destinations are Marshalltown (34%), Grinnell (7%) and Des Moines (6%).
0%work in town
| Gilman | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.3% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $101,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Gilman0%
Marshalltown34%
Grinnell7%
Des Moines6%
Cedar Rapids4%
14 mi
median commute distance
72
jobs based in Gilman
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Gilman’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the East Marshall Community School District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Marshall Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 157 | B |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Gilman
Gilman has cold winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 11° and about 28 inches of snow falls in a winter.
28″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–31°
Spring38–59°
Summer61–82°
Fall40–61°
Oct 6
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Housing
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, the median rent in Gilman is lower
At $678 a month, Gilman’s median rent is below both the Iowa town median ($911 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). 86% of Gilman households own their home. Typical home values rose 15% in the year to September 2026.
$270KZillow home value
| Gilman | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 86% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $678 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Gilman$270K
Iowa$237K
+15.1%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Health
How healthy Gilman is
Gilman beats the Iowa average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 22% of adults binge drink in Gilman.
| Gilman | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 38% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
5 better27 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Gilman | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.1% | 12% |
Grinnell Regional Medical Center
9.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Gilman
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities.
55risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 345 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gilman Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Gilman
18pages on Gilman
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Gilman
Grinnell CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Grinnell9.7 mi$68,106 tuitionMarshalltown Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Marshalltown10.5 mi$5,496 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Gilman residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Gilman for work
Where Gilman’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
72jobs based in Gilman
0%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Gilman
City in Iowa, United States
Gilman is a city in the southeastern corner of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 542 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,027 ft
- ZIP code
- 50106
Questions about Gilman
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Gilman, IA a good place to live?
Gilman has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.