GoodellIowaPopPlot, 2021
Goodell’s story
141 years in pictures
Census counts: 254 in 1900, 140 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1972 on.
- 1885Goodell is settled
GoodellIA
A town of 138, settled in 1885.
Population
138
2025 Census estimate · −2.8% since 2020
Typical home
$117K
+1.1% in a year
Household income
$88K
median
Median age
36.5
years
Jobs based here
10
A commuter town
Is Goodell a good place to live?
Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Goodell. Goodell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
138 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 Goodell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Goodell, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGoodell Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Goodell’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 hereHancock County AuditorHancock County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2022
ZIP code5043950439 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 Goodell.
Housing
More of Goodell’s households own their home than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
95% of households own their home in Goodell, above both Iowa’s towns (70%) and U.S. towns (73%). The typical Goodell home is worth about $117,000, up 1.1% in a year, 51% below the Iowa typical home.
$117KZillow home value
Typical home value
Goodell$117K
Iowa$237K
+1.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commute
Goodell stands out in Iowa and nationally: a smaller share of its working residents work locally
1.4% of working residents work locally in Goodell, against 31% in Iowa’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. The average trip to work in Goodell is 29 minutes. The top destinations are Forest City (25%), Garner (18%) and Mason City (10%).
1%work in town
| Goodell | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $88,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Goodell1%
Forest City25%
Garner18%
Mason City10%
Belmond6%
23 mi
median commute distance
10
jobs based in Goodell
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Goodell
Goodell has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Goodell’s July high is 82°F.
35″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–28°
Spring36–57°
Summer59–81°
Fall38–59°
Oct 7
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Goodell is
Goodell beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 22% of adults binge drink in Goodell. Only 4 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have obesity than Goodell.
| Goodell | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 38% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 32% | 36% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 76% | 78% | 79% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better31 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Goodell | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.3% | 8.7% |
Iowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond
5.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Drought leads a moderate hazard risk in Goodell
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 58% of U.S. communities.
42risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Goodell
16pages on Goodell
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Goodell; the nearest are
Waldorf UniversityUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Forest City23.5 mi$25,978 tuitionNorth Iowa Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Mason City29.2 mi$6,653 in-state tuitionIowa State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Ames62 mi$10,787 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Goodell residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Goodell for work
Where Goodell’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
10jobs based in Goodell
1%of working residents work in town
23 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Goodell
City in Iowa, US
Goodell is a city in Hancock County, Iowa, United States. The population was 140 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,243 ft
- ZIP code
- 50439
Questions about Goodell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Goodell, IA a good place to live?
Goodell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.