WashtaIA
A town of 199, settled in 1868.
Is Washta a good place to live?
31% of residents are 65 or older in Washta, where Iowa’s towns sit at 19% and U.S. towns at 18%. Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a higher median age than Washta. Washta has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
199 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Washta: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Washta, 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 Washta.
Washta’s typical home value is about $142K
The typical Washta home is worth about $142,000, down 5% in a year, 40% below the Iowa typical home. 85% of Washta households own their home, above both Iowa’s towns (70%) and U.S. towns (73%).
Typical home value
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
The schools Washta’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the River Valley Community School District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Valley ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 154 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts
Washta stands out in Iowa and nationally: a smaller share of its working residents work locally
1% of working residents work locally in Washta. Jobs based in Washta fell to 37 in 2023, 37 fewer than in 2013. Washta’s median household income is $47,000.
| Washta | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $47,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Washta faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 70% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Washta has four seasons and pleasant summers
Washta has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 9° and about 38 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
A larger share of adults have high blood pressure in Washta than in most of Iowa or the rest of the country
41% of Washta adults have high blood pressure. Washta beats the Iowa average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 14% of Washta adults have diabetes.
| Washta | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 35% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 80% | 78% | 79% |
| What stands out | Washta | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8% | 11.6% |
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 71.7% | 66.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.4% | 8.7% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ritts Area County Park | — | 17 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Everything we know about Washta
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Washta; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Washta residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
99% of working residents leave Washta for work
Where Washta’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Washta
City in Iowa, United States
Washta is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 209 at the time of the 2020 census. It is called "The Coldest Spot in Iowa", recording a temperature of −47 °F (−44 °C) without wind chill on January 12, 1912. Washta's name dates back to 1868 when a local man named Whisman turned his farm into a trading post/mail stop for the freight train going from Correctionville, Iowa, to Cherokee, Iowa. He was asked to be the official postmaster for the area. When asked what the name of his town would be, he recalled an interesting encounter with two Native Americans the year before: While Whisman was out hunting, the two came upon him, removed his gun, looked at it, and hand…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.0 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,148 ft
- ZIP code
- 51061
Questions about Washta
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Washta, IA a good place to live?
Washta has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.