Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 258, platted in 1872.
No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower median household income than Kensett. First Methodist Episcopal Church is on the National Register of Historic Places. Kensett 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: 459 in 1900, 257 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1972 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Kensett, 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 Kensett.
Most working residents leave Kensett for work: only 0% work in town. Jobs based in Kensett grew to 39 in 2023, 22 more than in 2013. At 23 minutes, Kensett’s average trip to work is above Iowa’s towns (19 minutes) but below U.S. towns (25 minutes).
| Kensett | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 23 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 11% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
At 81°F, Kensett’s July high is against 84°F in Iowa’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns. Kensett has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Kensett’s median rent is $650 a month. Typical home values rose 5.6% in the year to September 2026. 78% of households own their home in Kensett.
| Kensett | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $650 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 78% | 70% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Kensett beats the Iowa average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 41% of Kensett adults have obesity.
| Kensett | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| What stands out | Kensett | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 16% | 11.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.6% | 8.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7.8% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 56% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
1 within 15 miles of the center of Kensett
About 6 of every 100 Kensett residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Iowa.
Where Kensett’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
City in Iowa, USA
Kensett is a city in Worth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 257 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Kensett has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.