Iowa›Kossuth County

St. JosephIA

This town of 73 people was settled in 1878.

Population

Census survey, 2020–24

Is St. Joseph a good place to live?

26% of residents live below the poverty line in St. Joseph, above both Iowa’s towns (11%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a higher median age than St. Joseph. St. Joseph has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

73 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Livermore · 4 mi Bode · 4 mi Ottosen · 7 mi Lu Verne · 7 mi Rutland · 11 mi Algona · 11 mi

Getting set up

Moving to St. Joseph: who provides what

St. Joseph is unincorporated, so Kossuth County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4

Trash & county servicesKossuth CountyKossuth County provides services here

SchoolsAlgona Community School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES

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.gov

Who runs elections hereKossuth County AuditorKossuth County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021

ZIP code5051950519 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 St. Joseph.

Climate

St. Joseph has four seasons and pleasant summers

The July high for St. Joseph comes to 83°F.

39″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter12–29°

Spring36–58°

Summer60–81°

Fall38–60°

Oct 6

typical first frost

Apr 30

typical last frost

+0.6°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageSt. Joseph’s climate pageOpen the full Climate page

A year of weatherJuly highs 83°, January lows 8°Rain & snow39″ of snow a winter · 33 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+0.6° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Natural hazards

Natural hazards: low risk in St. Joseph, mostly inland flooding

FEMA puts 31% of St. Joseph’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 25% to drought. Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 62% of U.S. communities.

38risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingDroughtCold waves

Full pageSt. Joseph’s hazards pageOpen the full Hazards page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters17 disaster declarations · Declared for the county Get ready2.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Health

How healthy St. Joseph is

Among adults in St. Joseph, 20% have been diagnosed with depression. Only 8 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than St. Joseph. 18% of adults in St. Joseph smoke cigarettes; 39% have high blood pressure.