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Cresco, IA
City in Howard County, Iowa.
Population
3,908
Land area
3.3sq mi
People per sq mi
1,170
ZIP codes
0
Cresco and its ZIP codes
Cresco at a glance
- Cresco is about 20 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 104th among 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- The median household income is $60,608, 19% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $117,200 (44% below Iowa) and median rent is $715 a month.
Local data for Cresco, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Cresco, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$60,608
Poverty rate
13.4%
Median home value
$117,200
Median rent
$715/mo
Homeownership
75.0%
Bachelor's or higher
20.7%
Median age
38.5
Average commute
17.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,524), Norwegian Americans (752), Irish Americans (304).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Howard County. PPP loans are for Cresco.
Unemployment rate
2.6%
Sep 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,299
4,358 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$66,810
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$75.8M
FY 2026, $8,005 per person
How people get to work
Cresco, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone80.5%
- Carpooled5.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.4%
- Bicycle1.6%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.4%
- Worked from home8.5%
Average one-way commute: 17.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Cresco, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
428
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
14
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 6°F
38.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Cresco, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
36.9%
U.S. 33.3% +3.6 pts
Diabetes
11.5%
U.S. 12.1% -0.6 pts
Smoking
15.3%
U.S. 12.8% +2.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.8%
U.S. 11.1% -4.3 pts
Cities near Cresco
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| RidgewayCity | 7.7 mi | 0.8 |
| Lime SpringsCity | 10 mi | 1 |
| ProtivinCity | 10 mi | 0.4 |
| SpillvilleCity | 14 mi | 0.4 |
| Harmony, MNCity | 14 mi | 1.1 |
| Burr OakCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 0.7 |
| Canton, MNCity | 15 mi | 1 |
| ChesterCity | 15 mi | 1.4 |
| DecorahCity | 17 mi | 7.2 |
| Fort AtkinsonCity | 18 mi | 0.3 |
| CalmarCity | 18 mi | 1.1 |
| Jackson JunctionCity | 18 mi | 6 |
| ElmaCity | 18 mi | 1.2 |
| Alta VistaCity | 19 mi | 0.8 |
| LawlerCity | 20 mi | 1 |
| Mabel, MNCity | 20 mi | 0.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Cresco, IA in?
- Cresco is in Howard County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Cresco, IA?
- About 3,908 people live in Cresco, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Cresco?
- Nearby places include Ridgeway (7.7 mi), Lime Springs (10 mi), Protivin (10 mi), Spillville (14 mi), Harmony, MN (14 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023