Readlyn IA, June 2015, 2015
Readlyn’s story
122 years in pictures
Census counts: 227 in 1910, 845 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1971 on.
- 1904Readlyn is settled
ReadlynIA
A town of 860, settled in 1904.
Photo: Orange Suede Sofa · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
860
2025 Census estimate · +1.3% since 2020
Typical home
$226K
+0.9% in a year
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
37.8
years
Jobs based here
174
A commuter town
Is Readlyn a good place to live?
Of the 138 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower median rent than Readlyn. Readlyn has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
860 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 Readlyn: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Readlyn, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of ReadlynEIAHIFLD · EIA
WaterReadlyn Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Readlyn’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 hereBremer County AuditorBremer County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5066850668 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 Readlyn.
Work & commute
Most of Readlyn’s workers commute out: the town has 0.4 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Readlyn for work: only 6% work in town. Readlyn’s average trip to work is 26 minutes, above the Iowa town median (19 minutes) and near the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Since 2013, Readlyn has added 41 jobs, to 174 in 2023.
6%work in town
| Readlyn | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 6.2% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $86,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Readlyn6%
Waterloo26%
Waverly9%
Cedar Falls7%
Denver4%
16 mi
median commute distance
174
jobs based in Readlyn
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Schools
The schools Readlyn’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Wapsie Valley Community School District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Readlyn Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 107 | A |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Readlyn
Readlyn has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Readlyn’s July high is 83°F, against 84°F in Iowa’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
39″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–29°
Spring36–58°
Summer59–81°
Fall39–60°
Oct 9
typical first frost
Apr 29
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Readlyn
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 63% of U.S. communities.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Health
How healthy Readlyn is
Readlyn beats the Iowa average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 22% of adults binge drink in Readlyn.
| Readlyn | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.5% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 21% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
4 better28 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Readlyn | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.3% | 12% |
Community Memorial Hospital Medical Center
11.5 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
A typical Readlyn home is worth about $226K
The typical Readlyn home is worth about $226,000, up 0.9% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home. 81% of Readlyn households own their home.
$226KZillow home value
Typical home value
Readlyn$226K
Iowa$237K
+0.9%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 209 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Friendly People Ball Park | — | 6 |
| 2. Water Tower Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 18 attractions →Lost Island Theme Park and 4 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Readlyn. Close and well known come first.
19 mi Theme parkLost Island Theme Park
31 mi MuseumCedar Rock State Park
37 mi MuseumBily Clock Museum
16 mi MuseumCedar Falls Ice House
20 mi GardenCedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens
31 mi MuseumCedar Rock State Park37 mi MuseumBily Clock Museum16 mi MuseumCedar Falls Ice House20 mi GardenCedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic GardensSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Cedar Rock State Park: Orange Suede Sofa, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bily Clock Museum: Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2 · Cedar Falls Ice House: RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens: Cedarvalleyarboretum, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Readlyn
18pages on Readlyn
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Readlyn
Wartburg CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Waverly13.2 mi$26,250 tuitionAllen CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Waterloo13.3 mi
About 3 of every 100 Readlyn residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Readlyn for work
Where Readlyn’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
174jobs based in Readlyn
6%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Readlyn
City in Iowa, USA
Readlyn is a city in Bremer County, Iowa, United States. The population was 845 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is known for its culture surrounding the "Grump", a title of honor and area folklore character inspired by a real resident of Readlyn in the early 20th century. A post office opened in Readlyn in 1904.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,033 ft
- ZIP code
- 50668
Questions about Readlyn
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Readlyn, IA a good place to live?
Readlyn has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.