Glidden, IA, 2020
Glidden’s story
160 years in pictures
Census counts: 177 in 1870, 1,151 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1980 on.
- 1866Glidden is laid out
GliddenIA
A town of 1,133, laid out in 1866.
Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
1,133
2025 Census estimate · −1.6% since 2020
Typical home
$226K
+2.2% in a year
Household income
$68K
median
Median age
41.1
years
Jobs based here
214
A commuter town
Is Glidden a good place to live?
The best of Glidden’s subject grades are an A+ for cost of living and an A− for walkability; the weakest is a D for schools. Only 7 of Iowa’s 276 towns score higher on cost of living. No town in Iowa scores lower than Glidden on the outdoors. Glidden has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Glidden stand out
Where Glidden beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Typical home value
Glidden$226K
Iowa$237K
Cost of livingA+
3.1 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 98% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
4.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Glidden-Ralston Comm School District
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Glidden-Ralston Elementary School | PK–6 | 227 |
| Glidden-Ralston Jr-Sr High School | 7–12 | 163 |
Worth knowing · SchoolsD
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
Small town
1,133 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Glidden grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Glidden is from typical.
Cost of livingA+Open →SchoolsDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.8 of 20; 3.2% of households have no carA−Open →Jobs & income$68K median household incomeCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities; drought tops the listB+Open →HealthSt. Anthony Regional Hospital & Nursing Home 7.2 miles awayBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksD−Open →HistoryLaid out 1866; 2 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life11.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Glidden: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Glidden, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of GliddenEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterGlidden Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Glidden’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 hereCarroll County AuditorCarroll County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5144351443 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 Glidden.
SchoolsD
Glidden’s public schools trail 95% of Iowa districts
Its public schools are run by the Glidden-Ralston Community School District. Its two schools are below.
5%of IA districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glidden-Ralston Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 227 | C− |
| Glidden-Ralston Jr-Sr High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 163 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Most of Glidden’s workers commute out: the town has 0.4 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Glidden for work: only 3% work in town. Jobs based in Glidden fell to 214 in 2023, 110 fewer than in 2013. Glidden’s average trip to work is 19 minutes, near the Iowa town median (19 minutes) and below the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes).
3%work in town
| Glidden | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 8.5% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Glidden3%
Carroll34%
Scranton3%
Omaha2%
Manning2%
11 mi
median commute distance
214
jobs based in Glidden
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Glidden faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by drought
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 73% of U.S. communities.
27risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtTornadoesInland flooding
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Glidden, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Glidden has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 10° and about 32 inches of snow falls in a winter.
32″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter14–31°
Spring37–60°
Summer61–82°
Fall39–62°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Iowa overall
In the comparison, Glidden comes against 23% in Iowa’s towns and 22% across U.S. towns. Adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (23% statewide); children under 18 are 30% of residents (23% statewide). 24% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
41.1median age · IA 38.6
| Glidden | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 30% | 23% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 19% | 18% |
| Median age | 41.1 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 24% | 25% | 29% |
GliddenIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school41%
Some college18%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
About 106 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.1 points). Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Glidden | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 17.3% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.6% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.9% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.2% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.4% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.2% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.5% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 40.7% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.5% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.9% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16.3% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.6% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,100, single groups can be off by several points
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Glidden is healthier than 60% of U.S. towns
Glidden beats the Iowa average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 21% of Glidden adults binge drink.
60%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Glidden | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 33% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
2 better30 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Glidden | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5.3% | 6.4% |
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 71.7% | 66.6% |
St. Anthony Regional Hospital & Nursing Home
7.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade A+
Glidden stands out in Iowa and nationally: the median rent there is lower
The median rent in Glidden is $525 a month. The typical Glidden home is worth about $226,000, up 2.2% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home.
$226KZillow home value
| Glidden | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $525 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
Glidden$226K
Iowa$237K
+2.2%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Glidden
17pages on Glidden
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Glidden; the nearest are
Iowa Central Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fort Dodge40.1 mi$5,496 in-state tuitionIowa State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Ames55.4 mi$10,787 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Glidden residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Glidden for work
Where Glidden’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
214jobs based in Glidden
3%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Glidden
City in Iowa, USA
Glidden is a town in Carroll County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,151 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,237 ft
- ZIP code
- 51443
- Area code
- 712
Questions about Glidden
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Glidden, IA expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A+.
What is Glidden, IA known for?
Glidden was laid out in 1866. 2 notable people were born here, including Al Epperly and Brian Best.