Central Iowa to move (17), 2024
Patterson’s story
154 years in pictures
Census counts: 186 in 1880, 176 in 2020. The archive holds 10 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and a map from 1951 on.
- 1872Patterson is settled
PattersonIA
Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
176
2025 Census estimate · +0.6% since 2020
Median home value
$111K
Census ACS
Household income
$83K
median
Median age
36.3
years
Jobs based here
26
A commuter town
Is Patterson 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 Patterson. Patterson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Patterson stand out
Where Patterson beats most towns.
Small town
176 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 Patterson: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Patterson, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Patterson’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 hereMadison County AuditorMadison County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5021850218 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 Patterson.
Work & commute
In Patterson, the average trip to work runs longer than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
Among residents in Patterson, 6.9% live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Des Moines (27%), West Des Moines (23%) and Winterset (6%). Half commute less than 19 miles.
0%work in town
| Patterson | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $83,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Patterson0%
Des Moines27%
West Des Moines23%
Winterset6%
Indianola6%
19 mi
median commute distance
26
jobs based in Patterson
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Patterson’s year
A winter brings about 31 inches of snow, with January nights at 13° and July afternoons at 85°.
31″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–34°
Spring39–61°
Summer62–84°
Fall41–63°
Oct 12
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Patterson is
In Patterson, 77% of adults had a checkup this year, below both the Iowa town median (78%) and the median of U.S. towns (79%). For adults locally, the share who binge drink is 23%. Two figures for adults locally: 11% report frequent physical distress, 8.8% have diabetes.
| Patterson | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.8% | 12% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
13 better19 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Patterson | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 8.1% | 12% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 5.1% | 6.9% |
Madison County Health Care System
7.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
The biggest natural risk in Patterson is inland flooding, at a moderate overall level
Since 1999, one flood insurance claim has been paid in Patterson. Compared with 56% of U.S. communities, expected storm and flood damage locally is lower. Expected losses in Patterson break down as 49% from inland flooding and 13% from tornadoes. Households in the town have drawn federal disaster aid once, in 2007.
44risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesDrought
1
paid flood claims since 1999
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Housing
A home in Patterson sells for about $243K at the median
Only 8 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a higher home-ownership rate than Patterson.
$243Kmedian sale price
2
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 18 attractions →Casey's Center and 13 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Patterson. Close and well known come first.
22 mi Stadium & arenaCasey's Center
22 mi MuseumIowa State Capitol29 mi Theme parkAdventureland
19 mi MuseumDes Moines Art Center
18 mi Zoo & aquariumBlank Park Zoo
21 mi Stadium & arenaDrake StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Casey's Center: Iowahwyman at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Iowa State Capitol: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain · Des Moines Art Center: Nhandler at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Blank Park Zoo: Lawrence Lansing, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Drake Stadium: U.S. Navy photo by James Woods, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Patterson
16pages on Patterson
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Patterson
About 3 of every 100 Patterson residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Patterson for work
Where Patterson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
26jobs based in Patterson
0%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Patterson
City in Iowa, USA
Patterson is a city in Madison County, Iowa, United States. The population was 176 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 889 ft
- ZIP code
- 50218
Questions about Patterson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Patterson, IA a good place to live?
Patterson has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.