Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Monona’s subject grades are an A− for cost of living and civic life. Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a higher average trip to work than Monona. Monona is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 74% of U.S. towns. Only 2 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Monona. Monona has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Monona beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Monona is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 420 in 1880, 1,471 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 1925 and 3 maps from 1903 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Monona, 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 Monona.
Its public schools are run by the MFL MarMac Community School District. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFL MarMac Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–3 | Grades PK–3 | 318 | C+ |
| MFL MarMac High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 263 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 69% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Monona’s July high is 81°F, below both Iowa’s towns (84°F) and U.S. towns (85°F). Monona has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Most working residents leave Monona for work: only 13% work in town. Since 2013, Monona has lost 105 jobs, to 529 in 2023. 7.3% of Monona residents live below the poverty line, below both the Iowa town median (11%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%).
| Monona | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 31% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Monona beats the Iowa average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 20% of adults binge drink in Monona.
| Monona | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 26% | 25% |
| What stands out | Monona | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 15% | 11.6% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4% | 3.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7.7% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
The typical Monona home is worth about $243,000, up 12.6% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home.
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0.2 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. Monona’s trail density is 0.1 miles per square mile.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gateway Park | — | 3 |
| 2. Monona City Park | 0.2 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Monona; the nearest are
About 3 of every 100 Monona residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
City in Iowa, United States
Monona is a city in Clayton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,471 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
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−.