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Ely, IA
City in Linn County, Iowa.
Population
2,186
Land area
1.7sq mi
People per sq mi
1,296
ZIP codes
0
Ely and its ZIP codes
Ely at a glance
- Ely is about 23 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 157th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $105,882 a year, 41% more than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $311,900 (50% above Iowa) and median rent is $936 a month.
Local data for Ely, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Ely, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$105,882
Poverty rate
2.4%
Median home value
$311,900
Median rent
$936/mo
Homeownership
81.8%
Bachelor's or higher
37.9%
Median age
38.1
Average commute
21.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (889), Irish Americans (364), Norwegian Americans (97).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Linn County. PPP loans are for Ely.
Unemployment rate
4.0%
Aug 2026, -1.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$70,464
125,508 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$66,525
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2.4B
FY 2026, $10,633 per person
How people get to work
Ely, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone87.8%
- Carpooled3.7%
- Public transit0.6%
- Walked0.8%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home7.1%
Average one-way commute: 21.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ely, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
1,284
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
655
0.7% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 11°F
35.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ely, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.2%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
7.8%
U.S. 12.1% -4.3 pts
Smoking
11.7%
U.S. 12.8% -1.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
4.9%
U.S. 11.1% -6.2 pts
Cities near Ely
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| ShueyvilleCity | 4.2 mi | 1.9 |
| BertramCity | 5.6 mi | 1.5 |
| SwisherCity | 6.1 mi | 0.9 |
| SolonCity | 7 mi | 1.6 |
| Cedar RapidsCity | 8 mi | 74.6 |
| Mount VernonCity | 9 mi | 3.7 |
| North LibertyCity | 9.3 mi | 9.5 |
| LisbonCity | 10 mi | 2.1 |
| FairfaxCity | 11 mi | 3.6 |
| MarionCity | 12 mi | 18 |
| CoralvilleCity | 12 mi | 12.7 |
| TiffinCity | 13 mi | 4.3 |
| WalfordCity | 13 mi | 1 |
| SpringvilleCity | 13 mi | 2.4 |
| HiawathaCity | 14 mi | 4.8 |
| East AmanaCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Ely, IA in?
- Ely is in Linn County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Ely, IA?
- About 2,186 people live in Ely, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Ely?
- Nearby places include Shueyville (4.2 mi), Bertram (5.6 mi), Swisher (6.1 mi), Solon (7 mi), Cedar Rapids (8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023