Thor, Iowa 001, 2017
Thor’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 274 in 1900, 181 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1923 on.
- 1882Thor is settled
ThorIA
A town of 177, settled in 1882.
Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
177
2025 Census estimate · −1.1% since 2020
Typical home
$128K
+4.1% in a year
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
38.9
years
Jobs based here
19
A commuter town
Is Thor a good place to live?
Thor’s density of trails is 1.0 miles per square mile, where Iowa’s towns sit at 0.3 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Thor has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
177 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 Thor: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Thor, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterThor Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Thor’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 hereHumboldt County AuditorHumboldt County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code5059150591 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 Thor.
Housing
Homes in Thor are worth about $128K, by Zillow’s estimate
Among households in Thor, 90% live in a home they own, above both Iowa’s towns (70%) and U.S. towns (73%). Typical home values rose 4.1% in the year to September 2026. The town’s rent at the middle of the market stands at $1,075 a month.
$128KZillow home value
| Thor | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 90% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,075 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Thor$128K
Iowa$237K
+4.1%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commute
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, more of Thor’s residents live below the poverty line
Thor’s income of the median household is $57,000. The median commute is under 14 miles. The top destinations are Humboldt (25%), Fort Dodge (15%) and Dakota City (6%).
0%work in town
| Thor | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 32% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Thor0%
Humboldt25%
Fort Dodge15%
Dakota City6%
Eagle Grove6%
14 mi
median commute distance
19
jobs based in Thor
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Thor has four seasons and pleasant summers
The typical July afternoon high for Thor comes to 83°F.
39″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–29°
Spring36–58°
Summer60–81°
Fall38–60°
Oct 12
typical first frost
Apr 26
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults in Thor report frequent mental distress than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
16% of Thor adults worry about having enough food. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 8 have a higher share of adults who smoke cigarettes than Thor.
| Thor | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 38% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better23 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Thor | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 9.1% | 6.4% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 16.3% | 12% |
| More adults without reliable transportation | 9.2% | 6.8% |
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital
9.7 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
Thor faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by drought
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Thor after 5 declared disasters, most recently in 2024. FEMA expects more storm and flood damage in the town than in 58% of U.S. communities.
58risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingCold waves
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
2%conserved
2%
conserved · 13 of 640 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Thor
16pages on Thor
The big questions
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Thor; the nearest are
Iowa Central Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fort Dodge15.8 mi$5,496 in-state tuitionIowa State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Ames50.1 mi$10,787 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Thor residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Thor for work
Where Thor’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
19jobs based in Thor
0%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Thor
Town in Iowa, USA
Thor is a town in Norway Township, Humboldt County, Iowa, United States. The population was 181 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,138 ft
- ZIP code
- 50591
Questions about Thor
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Thor, IA a good place to live?
Thor has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.