Olds, Iowa, 2008
Olds’s story
142 years in pictures
Census counts: 165 in 1910, 192 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and a map from 1981 on.
- 1884Olds is settled
OldsIA
A town of 165, settled in 1884.
Population
165
2025 Census estimate · −4.1% since 2020
Typical home
$144K
+8.1% in a year
Household income
$49K
median
Median age
47.5
years
Jobs based here
34
A commuter town
Is Olds a good place to live?
Among 141 Iowa towns, just 1 have a lower share of households owning their home than Olds. Olds has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
165 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 Olds: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Olds, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterOlds Municipal Water DeptNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Olds’ 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 hereHenry County AuditorHenry County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5264752647 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 Olds.
Housing
The typical home in Olds is valued at about $144K
The typical Olds home is worth about $144,000, up 8.1% in a year, 39% below the Iowa typical home. At $773 a month, Olds’ median rent is against $911 a month in Iowa’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns.
$144KZillow home value
Typical home value
Olds$144K
Iowa$237K
+8.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commute
A smaller share of working residents work locally in Olds than in most of Iowa or the rest of the country
1.3% of working residents work locally in Olds, where Iowa’s towns sit at 31% and U.S. towns at 8%. Jobs based in Olds fell to 34 in 2023, 29 fewer than in 2013. The average trip to work in Olds is 26 minutes.
1%work in town
| Olds | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.3% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Olds1%
Mount Pleasant24%
Washington8%
Wayland5%
Burlington4%
21 mi
median commute distance
34
jobs based in Olds
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Olds
Olds has cold winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 14° and about 25 inches of snow falls in a winter.
25″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–35°
Spring40–61°
Summer62–83°
Fall42–63°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Olds faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 61% of U.S. communities.
39risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtStrong wind
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
Olds stands out in Iowa and nationally: a larger share of its adults sleep under 7 hours
38% of Olds adults sleep under 7 hours. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 7 have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Olds. 21% of Olds adults binge drink.
| Olds | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 32% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 35% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Henry County Health Center
11.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Olds
16pages on Olds
The big questions
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Olds; the nearest are
Maharishi International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Fairfield23.5 mi$16,530 tuitionSoutheastern Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · West Burlington29.4 mi$6,420 in-state tuitionUniversity of IowaUniversity or college · Public · Iowa City36.5 mi$11,283 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Olds residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Olds for work
Where Olds’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
34jobs based in Olds
1%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Olds
City in Iowa, United States
Olds is a city in Henry County, Iowa, United States. The population was 192 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 728 ft
- ZIP code
- 52647
Questions about Olds
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Olds, IA a good place to live?
Olds has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.