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Howard County, IA
6 cities and towns and 6 ZIP codes in Howard County, Iowa.
Population
9,445
Land area
473sq mi
People per sq mi
20
ZIP codes
6
Cities and towns in Howard County
Howard County at a glance
- Howard County is 65% less dense than Iowa as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $67,446 a year, 10% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $147,800 (29% below Iowa) and median rent is $713 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Cresco (3,908), Riceville (823) and Elma (659).
Local data for Howard County, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Howard County, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$67,446
Poverty rate
8.9%
Median home value
$147,800
Prices +9.0% in a year
Median rent
$713/mo
Homeownership
77.4%
Bachelor's or higher
19.5%
Median age
39.2
Average commute
23.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (3,642), Norwegian Americans (1,301), Irish Americans (754).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
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
PPP loans
$36.3M
1,268 loans, 4,038 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$39.1K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Howard County, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.4%
- Carpooled8.2%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.4%
- Bicycle0.7%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.3%
- Worked from home10.0%
Average one-way commute: 23.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Howard County, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
428
Most often 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 zone6 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Howard County, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.0%
U.S. 33.3% +4.7 pts
Diabetes
12.4%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
16.6%
U.S. 12.8% +3.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.5%
U.S. 11.1% -3.6 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Howard County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Howard County, IA?
- Cresco is the largest city or town in Howard County, with about 3,908 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Howard County?
- Howard County includes 6 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 50466, 50628, 52134, 52136, 52155.
- What is the population of Howard County, IA?
- About 9,445 people live in Howard County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Howard County?
- Howard County borders Mower County, MN, Fillmore County, MN, Winneshiek County, Floyd County, Chickasaw County, Mitchell County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023