RussellCityHall, 2025
Russell’s story
159 years in pictures
Census counts: 175 in 1870, a peak of 642 in 1940, 472 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2025 and 2 maps from 1935 on.
- 1867Russell is settled
RussellIA
A town of 477, settled in 1867.
Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
477
2025 Census estimate · +0.8% since 2020
Typical home
$170K
+4.4% in a year
Household income
$45K
median
Median age
54.0
years
Jobs based here
17
A commuter town
Is Russell a good place to live?
25% of residents live below the poverty line in Russell, above both the Iowa town median (11%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Russell. Russell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
477 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 Russell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Russell, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRathbun Regional Water Assn (Rathbun)No health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers85% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Russell’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 hereLucas County AuditorLucas County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code5023850238 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 Russell.
Work & commute
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, fewer of Russell’s working residents work locally
0.5% of Russell working residents work locally, below both Iowa’s towns (31%) and U.S. towns (8%). Jobs based in Russell fell to 17 in 2023, 54 fewer than in 2013. Russell’s median household income is $45,000.
0%work in town
| Russell | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.5% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $45,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Russell0%
Chariton18%
Des Moines6%
West Des Moines4%
Knoxville4%
39 mi
median commute distance
17
jobs based in Russell
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Housing
In Russell, the median rent runs lower than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
The median rent in Russell is $589 a month. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 8 have a higher share of households owning their home than Russell. Typical home values rose 4.4% in the year to September 2026.
$170KZillow home value
| Russell | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 87% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $589 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Russell$170K
Iowa$237K
+4.4%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Russell
Russell has cold winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 14° and about 24 inches of snow falls in a winter.
24″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–35°
Spring39–61°
Summer62–83°
Fall41–63°
Oct 5
typical first frost
May 5
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Russell is
Russell beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 11. 19% of Russell adults smoke cigarettes. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 9 have a higher share of adults who have high blood pressure than Russell.
| Russell | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 35% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better20 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Russell | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.2% | 77.8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17.2% | 11.6% |
Lucas County Health Center
6.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in Russell, with drought at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 54% of U.S. communities.
54risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingTornadoes
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Russell
17pages on Russell
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Russell; the nearest are
Central CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Pella32.5 mi$20,988 tuitionIndian Hills Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ottumwa42.3 mi$5,040 in-state tuitionTruman State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Kirksville, MO63.7 mi$9,838 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Russell residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Russell for work
Where Russell’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
17jobs based in Russell
0%of working residents work in town
39 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Russell
City in Iowa, United States
Russell is a city in Lucas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 472 in the 2020 census, a decline from the 559 population in 2000.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1887
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,027 ft
- ZIP code
- 50238
Questions about Russell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Russell, IA a good place to live?
Russell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Russell, IA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including George McGill and Rich Arnold.