Persia, IA, 2018
Persia’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 361 in 1900, 297 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1978 on.
- 1882Persia is settled
PersiaIA
A town of 289, settled in 1882.
Photo: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
289
2025 Census estimate · −2% since 2020
Typical home
$257K
+3.1% in a year
Household income
$72K
median
Median age
43.0
years
Jobs based here
17
A commuter town
Is Persia a good place to live?
30% of residents are under 18 in Persia, against 23% in Iowa’s towns and 22% across U.S. towns. Only 8 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a higher average trip to work than Persia. Persia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
289 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 Persia: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Persia, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Persia’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 hereHarrison County AuditorHarrison County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5156351563 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 Persia.
Work & commute
Most of Persia’s workers commute out: the town has 0.1 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Persia for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are Omaha (22%), Missouri Valley (12%) and Council Bluffs (10%). Half commute less than 29 miles.
0%work in town
| Persia | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $72,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Persia0%
Omaha22%
Missouri Valley12%
Council Bluffs10%
Logan4%
29 mi
median commute distance
17
jobs based in Persia
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Persia, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Persia has cold winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 12° and about 29 inches of snow falls in a winter.
29″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–34°
Spring38–61°
Summer62–83°
Fall40–63°
Oct 8
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Persia is
Persia beats the Iowa average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 12% of Persia adults report frequent physical distress, where Iowa’s towns sit at 13% and U.S. towns at 14%. 33% of adults have obesity in Persia.
| Persia | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 38% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 19% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
3 better29 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Persia | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9% | 12% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 5.5% | 6.8% |
Myrtue Medical Center
13.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
A typical Persia home is worth about $257K
The typical Persia home is worth about $257,000, up 3.1% in a year, 9% above the Iowa typical home. 82% of Persia households own their home.
$257KZillow home value
| Persia | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 82% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $918 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Persia$257K
Iowa$237K
+3.1%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Persia
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities.
56risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtHail
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 319 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Proof Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Persia
18pages on Persia
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Persia; the nearest are
Iowa Western Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Council Bluffs24.2 mi$6,930 in-state tuitionUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterUniversity or college · Public · Omaha, NE30.6 mi
About 1 of every 100 Persia residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Persia for work
Where Persia’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
17jobs based in Persia
0%of working residents work in town
29 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Persia
City in Iowa, USA
Persia is a city in Harrison County, Iowa, United States. The population was 297 in the 2020 census, a decline from 363 in the 2000 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,175 ft
- ZIP code
- 51563
Questions about Persia
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Persia, IA a good place to live?
Persia has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Persia, IA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Karen Jennings and Joan Hester.