Panama, IA, 2018
Panama’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 379 in 1890, 235 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1978 on.
- 1882Panama is settled
PanamaIA
A town of 231, settled in 1882.
Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
231
2025 Census estimate · −1.3% since 2020
Typical home
$259K
+10.7% in a year
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
36.7
years
Jobs based here
219
A job hub
Is Panama a good place to live?
Only 6 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Panama. Panama has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Panama stand out
Where Panama beats most towns.
Small town
231 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 Panama: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Panama, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPanama Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Panama’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 hereShelby County AuditorShelby County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5156251562 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 Panama.
Work & commute
With 2.2 jobs for every working resident, Panama draws in 216 commuters
Most working residents leave Panama for work: only 3% work in town. Panama’s average trip to work is 18 minutes, where Iowa’s towns sit at 19 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Jobs based in Panama grew to 219 in 2023, 178 more than in 2013.
3%work in town
| Panama | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Panama3%
Harlan28%
Shelby8%
Council Bluffs8%
Denison5%
16 mi
median commute distance
219
jobs based in Panama
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Panama has four seasons and pleasant summers
Panama has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 12° and about 31 inches of snow falls in a winter.
31″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–33°
Spring38–60°
Summer61–82°
Fall40–62°
Oct 9
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 Panama is
Panama beats the Iowa average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 20% of Panama adults binge drink, near the Iowa town median (20%) and above the median of U.S. towns (16%). 31% of Panama adults sleep under 7 hours.
| Panama | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better29 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Panama | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.4% | 8.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7.7% | 6.6% |
| More adults with arthritis | 30.8% | 27% |
Myrtue Medical Center
9.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
Homes in Panama are worth about $259K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Panama home is worth about $259,000, up 10.7% in a year, 9% above the Iowa typical home.
$259KZillow home value
| Panama | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 77% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $940 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Panama$259K
Iowa$237K
+10.7%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Panama faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities.
56risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 185 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Whispering Pines Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Panama
17pages on Panama
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Panama; the nearest are
Iowa Western Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Council Bluffs35.5 mi$6,930 in-state tuitionUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterUniversity or college · Public · Omaha, NE41.5 mi
About 1 of every 100 Panama residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A job hub
Every workday, about 216 people come to Panama for work
Where Panama’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
219jobs based in Panama
3%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Panama
City in Iowa, United States
Panama is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 235 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
- 1,266 ft
- ZIP code
- 51562
Questions about Panama
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Panama, IA a good place to live?
Panama has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.