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Decorah, IA
City in Winneshiek County, Iowa.
Population
7,535
Land area
7.2sq mi
People per sq mi
1,040
ZIP codes
0
Decorah and its ZIP codes
Decorah at a glance
- Decorah is about 18 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 53rd most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $64,366 a year, 14% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $244,500 (18% above Iowa) and median rent is $853 a month.
Local data for Decorah, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Decorah, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$64,366
Poverty rate
8.1%
Median home value
$244,500
Median rent
$853/mo
Homeownership
61.5%
Bachelor's or higher
42.2%
Median age
39.5
Average commute
12.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,288), Norwegian Americans (1,649), Irish Americans (1,094).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Winneshiek County. PPP loans are for Decorah.
Unemployment rate
2.5%
Aug 2026, -0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,710
10,515 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$66,544
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$159M
FY 2026, $7,909 per person
How people get to work
Decorah, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone59.4%
- Carpooled5.1%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked21.6%
- Bicycle2.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home10.8%
Average one-way commute: 12.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Decorah, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
562
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
60
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 10°F
37.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Decorah, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.0%
U.S. 33.3% -1.3 pts
Diabetes
9.1%
U.S. 12.1% -3.0 pts
Smoking
10.2%
U.S. 12.8% -2.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
5.3%
U.S. 11.1% -5.8 pts
Cities near Decorah
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| CalmarCity | 9.1 mi | 1.1 |
| RidgewayCity | 10 mi | 0.8 |
| SpillvilleCity | 11 mi | 0.4 |
| OssianCity | 11 mi | 1.1 |
| Burr OakCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.7 |
| Fort AtkinsonCity | 13 mi | 0.3 |
| CastaliaCity | 14 mi | 0.6 |
| Mabel, MNCity | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| WaukonCity | 16 mi | 2.8 |
| ProtivinCity | 16 mi | 0.4 |
| CrescoCity | 17 mi | 3.3 |
| Canton, MNCity | 17 mi | 1 |
| St. LucasCity | 18 mi | 0.3 |
| Jackson JunctionCity | 19 mi | 6 |
| PostvilleCity | 19 mi | 2.1 |
| Spring Grove, MNCity | 19 mi | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Decorah, IA in?
- Decorah is in Winneshiek County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Decorah, IA?
- About 7,535 people live in Decorah, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Decorah?
- Nearby places include Calmar (9.1 mi), Ridgeway (10 mi), Spillville (11 mi), Ossian (11 mi), Burr Oak (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023