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Alta, IA
City in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
Population
2,250
Land area
1.1sq mi
People per sq mi
2,087
ZIP codes
0
Alta and its ZIP codes
Alta at a glance
- Alta is about 36 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 153rd most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $65,833 a year, 12% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $146,600 (30% below Iowa) and median rent is $894 a month.
Local data for Alta, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Alta, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$65,833
Poverty rate
10.2%
Median home value
$146,600
Median rent
$894/mo
Homeownership
78.3%
Bachelor's or higher
21.2%
Median age
38.8
Average commute
13.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (475), Laotian Americans (296), Mexican Americans (243).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Buena Vista County. PPP loans are for Alta.
Unemployment rate
2.9%
Aug 2026, -0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$55,480
10,291 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,087
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$126M
FY 2026, $6,042 per person
How people get to work
Alta, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.1%
- Carpooled15.5%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.4%
- Worked from home5.8%
Average one-way commute: 13.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Alta, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
646
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
11
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 9°F
33.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Alta, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.0%
U.S. 33.3% +3.7 pts
Diabetes
10.8%
U.S. 12.1% -1.3 pts
Smoking
13.5%
U.S. 12.8% +0.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.9%
U.S. 11.1% -1.2 pts
Cities near Alta
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Storm LakeCity | 5.9 mi | 5.4 |
| AureliaCity | 7.4 mi | 1 |
| TruesdaleCity | 7.4 mi | 0.1 |
| LakesideCity | 7.5 mi | 0.2 |
| SchallerCity | 12 mi | 1.3 |
| GalvaCity | 13 mi | 0.8 |
| RembrandtCity | 13 mi | 0.2 |
| CherokeeCity | 13 mi | 6.8 |
| NemahaCity | 15 mi | 0.1 |
| Linn GroveCity | 16 mi | 0.6 |
| NewellCity | 16 mi | 1.3 |
| EarlyCity | 17 mi | 0.4 |
| Sioux RapidsCity | 17 mi | 0.8 |
| PetersonCity | 17 mi | 0.5 |
| QuimbyCity | 18 mi | 0.4 |
| HolsteinCity | 18 mi | 1.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Alta, IA in?
- Alta is in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Alta, IA?
- About 2,250 people live in Alta, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Alta?
- Nearby places include Storm Lake (5.9 mi), Aurelia (7.4 mi), Truesdale (7.4 mi), Lakeside (7.5 mi), Schaller (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023