HarrisIowaPopPlot, 2021
Harris’s story
137 years in pictures
Census counts: 217 in 1900, a peak of 359 in 1920, 151 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1970 on.
- 1889Harris is settled
HarrisIA
A town of 146, settled in 1889.
Population
146
2025 Census estimate · −3.3% since 2020
Typical home
$214K
+9.1% in a year
Household income
$54K
median
Median age
60.2
years
Jobs based here
6
A commuter town
Is Harris a good place to live?
Harris has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
146 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 Harris: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Harris, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHarris 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 Harris’ 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 hereOsceola County AuditorOsceola County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code5134551345 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 Harris.
Work & commute
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, fewer of Harris’ working residents work locally
In Harris, the average commute is 12 minutes. Harris’ middle household income stands at $54,000, against $69,000 in Iowa’s towns and $80,000 across U.S. towns. For half of commuters, work is under 19 miles away. The top destinations are Sibley (11%), Sheldon (10%) and Spirit Lake (7%).
1%work in town
| Harris | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 12 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.4% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $54,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Harris1%
Sibley11%
Sheldon10%
Spirit Lake7%
Melvin5%
19 mi
median commute distance
6
jobs based in Harris
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Harris has snowy winters and pleasant summers
In July, afternoons reach 83°; in January, nights fall to 7°, and about 46 inches of snow falls in a winter.
46″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–27°
Spring35–56°
Summer59–81°
Fall37–58°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Top of a low hazard risk in Harris: hail
Households in Harris have drawn federal disaster aid in 3 declared disasters, most recently in 2024. Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in 62% of U.S. communities. 27% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from hail, followed by inland flooding at 26%.
38risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HailInland floodingCold waves
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
More of Harris’ adults have high blood pressure than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
Harris: 16% of adults report frequent physical distress. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 2 have a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Harris. In Harris, 40% of adults have obesity, above both the Iowa town median (38%) and the median of U.S. towns (35%). Of 32 CDC measures, Harris beats the Iowa average on 3 and trails it on 12.
| Harris | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
3 better17 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Harris | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 16.5% | 20.5% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.6% | 77.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.3% | 6.9% |
Sanford Worthington Medical Center
14.7 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Zillow puts the typical Harris home at about $214K
Among households in Harris, 31% own their home. Values rose 9.1% in the 12 months to September 2026. In Harris, the median rent is $950 a month.
$214KZillow home value
| Harris | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 31% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $950 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Harris$214K
Iowa$237K
+9.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 640 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Snyder Wildlife Management Area | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Harris
17pages on Harris
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Harris; the nearest are
Northwest Iowa Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sheldon28.6 mi$7,350 in-state tuitionSouthwest Minnesota State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Marshall, MN71.5 mi$10,361 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Harris residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Harris for work
Where Harris’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
6jobs based in Harris
1%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Harris
City in Iowa, USA
Harris is a city in Osceola County, Iowa, United States. The population was 151 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,552 ft
- ZIP code
- 51345
Questions about Harris
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Harris, IA a good place to live?
Harris has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.