Rudd Iowa, 2009
Rudd’s story
157 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1869Rudd is settled
RuddIA
A town of 336, settled in 1869.
Photo: Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
336
2025 Census estimate · −6.1% since 2020
Typical home
$165K
+6.9% in a year
Household income
$76K
median
Median age
36.0
years
Jobs based here
104
A commuter town
Is Rudd a good place to live?
No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Rudd. Rudd has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
336 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 Rudd: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Rudd, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRudd WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Rudd’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 hereFloyd County AuditorFloyd County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2026
ZIP code5047150471 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 Rudd.
Work & commute
About one in three of Rudd’s working residents commute to Mason City
Most working residents leave Rudd for work: only 4% work in town. Since 2013, Rudd has added 20 jobs, to 104 in 2023. At 25 minutes, Rudd’s average trip to work is above the Iowa town median (19 minutes) and near the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes).
4%work in town
| Rudd | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.8% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 25 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Rudd4%
Mason City32%
Nora Springs8%
Osage5%
Charles City4%
16 mi
median commute distance
104
jobs based in Rudd
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
Homes in Rudd are worth about $165K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Rudd home is worth about $165,000, up 6.9% in a year, 30% below the Iowa typical home. At $859 a month, Rudd’s median rent is against $911 a month in Iowa’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns.
$165KZillow home value
| Rudd | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $859 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 73% | 70% | 73% |
Typical home value
Rudd$165K
Iowa$237K
+6.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Rudd faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 70% of U.S. communities. Since 2008, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Rudd.
70risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
2
paid flood claims since 2008
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Rudd, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Rudd has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Rudd’s July high is 82°F.
38″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–27°
Spring36–56°
Summer59–80°
Fall38–59°
Oct 6
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Rudd is
Rudd beats the Iowa average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 21% of Rudd adults binge drink.
| Rudd | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 9.7% | 12% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
2 better30 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Rudd | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.3% | 12% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5.2% | 6.4% |
Floyd County Medical Center
12.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rudd
17pages on Rudd
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Rudd
About 0 of every 100 Rudd residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Rudd for work
Where Rudd’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
104jobs based in Rudd
4%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Rudd
City in Iowa, USA
Rudd is a city in Floyd County, Iowa, United States. The population was 358 at the time of the 2020 census, a decline of 16.9% from 431 in 2000. A post office opened in Rudd in 1869.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,109 ft
- ZIP code
- 50471
Questions about Rudd
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rudd, IA a good place to live?
Rudd has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.