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Creston, IA
City in Union County, Iowa.
Population
7,435
Land area
5.2sq mi
People per sq mi
1,433
ZIP codes
0
Creston and its ZIP codes
Creston at a glance
- Creston is about 25 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 55th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $52,633 a year, 30% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $114,500 (45% below Iowa) and median rent is $703 a month.
Local data for Creston, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Creston, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$52,633
Poverty rate
15.8%
Median home value
$114,500
Median rent
$703/mo
Homeownership
64.4%
Bachelor's or higher
23.9%
Median age
39.5
Average commute
12.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,656), Irish Americans (1,187), Swedish Americans (346).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Union County. PPP loans are for Creston.
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$52,186
5,822 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,805
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$90.1M
FY 2026, $7,424 per person
How people get to work
Creston, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.5%
- Carpooled9.9%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked6.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home2.3%
Average one-way commute: 12.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Creston, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
515
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
14
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
85° / 11°F
37.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Creston, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.6%
U.S. 33.3% +4.3 pts
Diabetes
12.2%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
16.4%
U.S. 12.8% +3.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.5%
U.S. 11.1% -3.6 pts
Cities near Creston
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| CromwellCity | 5.4 mi | 0.3 |
| AftonCity | 8.9 mi | 1 |
| KentCensus-designated place | 9 mi | 0.5 |
| OrientCity | 10 mi | 0.4 |
| ArispeCity | 11 mi | 0.5 |
| Shannon CityCity | 12 mi | 0.4 |
| PrescottCity | 13 mi | 0.4 |
| MacksburgCity | 14 mi | 2 |
| LenoxCity | 16 mi | 1.9 |
| ThayerCity | 16 mi | 0.1 |
| LorimorCity | 17 mi | 0.4 |
| TingleyCity | 17 mi | 0.7 |
| DiagonalCity | 17 mi | 0.9 |
| GreenfieldCity | 18 mi | 1.8 |
| ClearfieldCity | 19 mi | 1.2 |
| FontanelleCity | 19 mi | 0.9 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Creston, IA in?
- Creston is in Union County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Creston, IA?
- About 7,435 people live in Creston, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Creston?
- Nearby places include Cromwell (5.4 mi), Afton (8.9 mi), Kent (9 mi), Orient (10 mi), Arispe (11 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023