Van WertIA
A town of 175, settled in 1880.
Is Van Wert a good place to live?
Van Wert’s median age is 57 years, above both Iowa’s towns (38.7 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Van Wert. Van Wert has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
175 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Van Wert: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Van Wert, and how to reach them.
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 Van Wert.
Van Wert stands out in Iowa and nationally, with the average trip to work longer than most
5.3% of residents live below the poverty line in Van Wert, against 11% in Iowa’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Half the trips to work are shorter than 47 miles. The top destinations are Osceola (14%), Des Moines (11%) and Leon (10%).
| Van Wert | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 11% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Van Wert’s year
In July, afternoons reach 85°; in January, nights fall to 14°, and about 28 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Van Wert is
Van Wert: nearly a third of adults sleep under 7 hours. Two figures for adults locally: 39% have high blood pressure, 17% smoke cigarettes.
| Van Wert | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| What stands out | Van Wert | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.9% | 77.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.3% | 6.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards: moderate risk in Van Wert, mostly drought
In Van Wert, the risk rating from FEMA is 55 of 100. Federal aid has come to Van Wert households in 3 declared disasters; the latest was in 2010. FEMA puts 42% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to drought, and 22% to inland flooding.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Everything we know about Van Wert
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Van Wert; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Van Wert residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
100% of working residents leave Van Wert for work
Where Van Wert’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Van Wert
City in Iowa, United States
Van Wert is a city in northern Decatur County, Iowa, United States. The population was 178 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,161 ft
- ZIP code
- 50262
Questions about Van Wert
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Van Wert, IA a good place to live?
Van Wert has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.