IAMap-doton-Plymouth, 2004
Plymouth’s story
166 years in pictures
Census counts: 239 in 1880, 375 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and a map from 1985 on.
- 1860Plymouth is settled
PlymouthIA
A town of 366, settled in 1860.
Population
366
2025 Census estimate · −4.2% since 2020
Typical home
$198K
+2.7% in a year
Household income
$80K
median
Median age
38.8
years
Jobs based here
31
A commuter town
Is Plymouth a good place to live?
No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of working residents who work in town than Plymouth. Plymouth has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
366 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 Plymouth: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Plymouth, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterPlymouth Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Plymouth’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 hereCerro Gordo County AuditorCerro Gordo County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP codes50464, 5040150464 98% · 50401 2%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 Plymouth.
Work & commute
About half of Plymouth’s working residents commute to Mason City
Most working residents leave Plymouth for work: only 1% work in town. At 22 minutes, Plymouth’s average trip to work is against 19 minutes in Iowa’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. 13% of Plymouth residents live below the poverty line.
1%work in town
| Plymouth | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $80,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Plymouth1%
Mason City49%
Clear Lake6%
Forest City5%
Charles City2%
10 mi
median commute distance
31
jobs based in Plymouth
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Plymouth has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Plymouth has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. At 82°F, Plymouth’s July high is below both the Iowa town median (84°F) and the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
44″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–27°
Spring35–56°
Summer59–80°
Fall38–59°
Oct 7
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Housing
Homes in Plymouth are worth about $198K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Plymouth home is worth about $198,000, up 2.7% in a year, 16% below the Iowa typical home. Plymouth’s median rent is $831 a month.
$198KZillow home value
| Plymouth | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 78% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $831 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Plymouth$198K
Iowa$237K
+2.7%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Plymouth faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by drought
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 64% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Plymouth since 2008.
64risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 2008
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
How healthy Plymouth is
Plymouth beats the Iowa average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 22% of adults binge drink in Plymouth.
| Plymouth | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 18% | 19% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 26% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
4 better28 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Plymouth | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.4% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9% | 12% |
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center
8.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
4.3%conserved
4.3%
conserved · 12 of 277 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Plymouth Pits Wildlife Area | — | 12 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Plymouth
17pages on Plymouth
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Plymouth
About 2 of every 100 Plymouth residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Plymouth for work
Where Plymouth’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
31jobs based in Plymouth
1%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Plymouth
City in Iowa, USA
Plymouth is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States, along the Shell Rock River. The population was 375 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,135 ft
- ZIP code
- 50464
Questions about Plymouth
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Plymouth, IA a good place to live?
Plymouth has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.