IAMap-doton-Mallard, 2004
Mallard’s story
143 years in pictures
Census counts: 292 in 1900, a peak of 449 in 1930, 257 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and a map from 1980 on.
- 1883Mallard is settled
MallardIA
A town of 259, settled in 1883.
Population
259
2025 Census estimate · −1.9% since 2020
Typical home
$149K
+1% in a year
Household income
$46K
median
Median age
46.8
years
Jobs based here
30
A commuter town
Is Mallard a good place to live?
No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Mallard. Mallard has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
259 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 Mallard: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mallard, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMallard Water Supply6 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Mallard’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 herePalo Alto County AuditorPalo Alto County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2021
ZIP code5056250562 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 Mallard.
Housing
Homes in Mallard are worth about $149K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Mallard home is worth about $149,000, up 1% in a year, 37% below the Iowa typical home. 82% of Mallard households own their home, above both Iowa’s towns (70%) and U.S. towns (73%).
$149KZillow home value
| Mallard | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 82% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,078 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Mallard$149K
Iowa$237K
+1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commute
Mallard stands out in Iowa and nationally, with the median household income lower than most
At $46,000, Mallard’s median household income is below both the Iowa town median ($69,000) and the median of U.S. towns ($80,000). 19% of residents live below the poverty line in Mallard. Jobs based in Mallard fell to 30 in 2023, 57 fewer than in 2013.
0%work in town
| Mallard | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 19% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $46,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Mallard0%
Graettinger18%
Emmetsburg17%
Spencer10%
Pocahontas3%
27 mi
median commute distance
30
jobs based in Mallard
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Mallard
Mallard has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 8° and about 37 inches of snow falls in a winter.
37″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–29°
Spring36–57°
Summer60–82°
Fall38–60°
Oct 7
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Mallard is
Mallard beats the Iowa average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 40% of Mallard adults have high blood pressure. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 7 have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Mallard.
| Mallard | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 35% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
2 better24 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Mallard | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.9% | 77.8% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 87% | 84.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.6% | 6.6% |
Palo Alto County Hospital
12.4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Mallard faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 55% of U.S. communities.
45risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingDrought
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Outdoors
Mallard has set aside 0% of its land for conservation
0.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 249 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mallard City Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mallard
17pages on Mallard
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mallard; the nearest are
Iowa Lakes Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Estherville32.8 mi$7,392 in-state tuitionIowa State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Ames82.2 mi$10,787 in-state tuition
About 1 of every 100 Mallard residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Mallard for work
Where Mallard’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
30jobs based in Mallard
0%of working residents work in town
27 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Mallard
City in Iowa, USA
Mallard is a city in Palo Alto County, Iowa, United States. The population was 257 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
- 1,224 ft
- ZIP code
- 50562
Questions about Mallard
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mallard, IA a good place to live?
Mallard has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.