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Emerson, IA

City in Mills County, Iowa.

Population

570

Land area

0.3sq mi

People per sq mi

2,237

ZIP codes

0

Emerson and its ZIP codes

Full map

Emerson at a glance

  • Emerson is about 39 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
  • The median household income is $49,063, 35% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $119,500 (43% below Iowa) and median rent is $1,034 a month.

Local data for Emerson, IA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Emerson, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$49,063

Poverty rate

15.1%

Median home value

$119,500

Median rent

$1,034/mo

Homeownership

82.5%

Bachelor's or higher

9.9%

Median age

45.4

Average commute

26.5 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (120), Irish Americans (111), Swedish Americans (30).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Mills County. PPP loans are for Emerson.

Details

Unemployment rate

2.8%

Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$56,621

3,133 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$68,784

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$120M

FY 2026, $8,287 per person

Mills County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Emerson, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone83.8%
  • Carpooled5.3%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked0.8%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other4.5%
  • Worked from home5.7%

Average one-way commute: 26.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Emerson, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Very Low

Top: landslide

Storm events since 1996

463

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

44

0.5% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

86° / 13°F

37.2 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Emerson, IA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

41.1%

U.S. 33.3% +7.8 pts

Diabetes

12.3%

U.S. 12.1% about the same

Smoking

16.7%

U.S. 12.8% +3.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

6.8%

U.S. 11.1% -4.3 pts

Cities near Emerson

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
HastingsCity4.8 mi0.4
HendersonCity8.6 mi0.1
Red OakCity9.4 mi3.9
MalvernCity9.6 mi1.6
CoburgCity10 mi0.3
ImogeneCity10 mi0.5
MacedoniaCity12 mi0.2
RandolphCity13 mi0.3
EssexCity14 mi1.6
Silver CityCity14 mi0.2
CarsonCity15 mi0.7
ElliottCity16 mi0.4
StantonCity16 mi0.9
TaborCity17 mi1.3
MineolaCensus-designated place17 mi0.4
GlenwoodCity18 mi2.9

Frequently asked questions

What county is Emerson, IA in?
Emerson is in Mills County, Iowa.
What is the population of Emerson, IA?
About 570 people live in Emerson, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Emerson?
Nearby places include Hastings (4.8 mi), Henderson (8.6 mi), Red Oak (9.4 mi), Malvern (9.6 mi), Coburg (10 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023