Checked
Onawa, IA
City in Monona County, Iowa.
Population
2,839
Land area
5.3sq mi
People per sq mi
539
ZIP codes
0
Onawa and its ZIP codes
Onawa at a glance
- Onawa is about 9.4 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- It is the 126th most populous of 1,017 cities and towns in Iowa.
- Households here earn a median of $62,143 a year, 17% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $145,800 (30% below Iowa) and median rent is $1,037 a month.
Local data for Onawa, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Onawa, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$62,143
Poverty rate
16.3%
Median home value
$145,800
Median rent
$1,037/mo
Homeownership
73.7%
Bachelor's or higher
19.4%
Median age
35.5
Average commute
18.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (825), Irish Americans (584), Swedish Americans (88).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Monona County. PPP loans are for Onawa.
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$47,323
2,556 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$60,306
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$111M
FY 2026, $12,627 per person
How people get to work
Onawa, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone83.7%
- Carpooled14.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home1.5%
Average one-way commute: 18.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Onawa, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
423
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
29
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
86° / 9°F
29.9 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone3 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Onawa, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
43.8%
U.S. 33.3% +10.5 pts
Diabetes
14.1%
U.S. 12.1% +2.0 pts
Smoking
18.3%
U.S. 12.8% +5.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.0%
U.S. 11.1% -3.1 pts
Cities near Onawa
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| BlencoeCity | 6.1 mi | 0.8 |
| TurinCity | 6.3 mi | 0.1 |
| WhitingCity | 7.9 mi | 1 |
| Decatur, NEVillage | 8.5 mi | 1 |
| CastanaCity | 9.8 mi | 0.9 |
| MoorheadCity | 14 mi | 0.2 |
| RodneyCity | 15 mi | 0.2 |
| HornickCity | 15 mi | 0.3 |
| Little SiouxCity | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| River SiouxCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| PisgahCity | 15 mi | 0.5 |
| Macy, NECensus-designated place | 16 mi | 1.6 |
| SoldierCity | 16 mi | 0.3 |
| SloanCity | 16 mi | 0.6 |
| SmithlandCity | 16 mi | 0.3 |
| Tekamah, NECity | 18 mi | 1.6 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Onawa, IA in?
- Onawa is in Monona County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Onawa, IA?
- About 2,839 people live in Onawa, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Onawa?
- Nearby places include Blencoe (6.1 mi), Turin (6.3 mi), Whiting (7.9 mi), Decatur, NE (8.5 mi), Castana (9.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023