Christian Reformed Church, 2010
Ocheyedan’s story
Ocheyedan in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
Explore the history →
Photo: Peter K. · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
419
2025 Census estimate · −4.1% since 2020
Typical home
$168K
+8.6% in a year
Household income
$80K
median
Median age
46.8
years
Jobs based here
150
A commuter town
Is Ocheyedan 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 Ocheyedan. Ocheyedan has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
419 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 Ocheyedan: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ocheyedan, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOcheyedan Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpMondayTown pickupTown site
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 code5135451354 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 Ocheyedan.
Work & commute
Ocheyedan has 0.6 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Ocheyedan for work: only 3% work in town. 6.3% of residents live below the poverty line in Ocheyedan, below both the Iowa town median (11%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). The average trip to work in Ocheyedan is 22 minutes.
3%work in town
| Ocheyedan | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.4% | 31% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Ocheyedan3%
Sibley16%
Sheldon8%
Worthington7%
Spencer4%
21 mi
median commute distance
150
jobs based in Ocheyedan
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
Homes in Ocheyedan are worth about $168K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Ocheyedan home is worth about $168,000, up 8.6% in a year, 29% below the Iowa typical home. 88% of households own their home in Ocheyedan, against 70% in Iowa’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns. Ocheyedan’s median rent is $723 a month.
$168KZillow home value
| Ocheyedan | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 88% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $723 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Ocheyedan$168K
Iowa$237K
+8.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Ocheyedan has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Ocheyedan has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 7° and about 46 inches of snow falls in a winter.
46″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–27°
Spring34–56°
Summer59–81°
Fall37–58°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Low risk in Ocheyedan, with hail at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 62% of U.S. communities.
38risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HailInland floodingCold waves
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
How healthy Ocheyedan is
Ocheyedan beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 38% of Ocheyedan adults have high blood pressure.
| Ocheyedan | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better24 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Ocheyedan | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.8% | 77.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.1% | 6.9% |
Osceola Community Hospital
10.6 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 720 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ocheyedan Town Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ocheyedan
18pages on Ocheyedan
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ocheyedan; the nearest are
Northwest Iowa Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sheldon23.7 mi$7,350 in-state tuitionSouthwest Minnesota State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Marshall, MN72.4 mi$10,361 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Ocheyedan residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Ocheyedan for work
Where Ocheyedan’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
150jobs based in Ocheyedan
3%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Ocheyedan
City in Iowa, United States
Ocheyedan is a city in Osceola County, Iowa, United States. The population was 439 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,575 ft
- ZIP code
- 51354
Questions about Ocheyedan
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ocheyedan, IA a good place to live?
Ocheyedan has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.