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Palo, IA
City in Linn County, Iowa.
Population
1,438
Land area
1.2sq mi
People per sq mi
1,201
ZIP codes
0
Palo and its ZIP codes
Palo at a glance
- Palo is about 21 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
- The median household income is $106,375, 42% above the Iowa median of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $282,400 (36% above Iowa) and median rent is $717 a month.
Local data for Palo, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Palo, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$106,375
Poverty rate
5.5%
Median home value
$282,400
Median rent
$717/mo
Homeownership
97.5%
Bachelor's or higher
27.2%
Median age
32.7
Average commute
28.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (427), Irish Americans (181), Norwegian Americans (57).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Linn County. PPP loans are for Palo.
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Sep 2026, 0.0 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
Palo, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.5%
- Carpooled3.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked0.4%
- Bicycle0.9%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
- Worked from home14.6%
Average one-way commute: 28.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Palo, 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
86° / 13°F
38.8 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Palo, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.9%
U.S. 33.3% +0.6 pts
Diabetes
7.5%
U.S. 12.1% -4.6 pts
Smoking
12.7%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
5.3%
U.S. 11.1% -5.8 pts
Cities near Palo
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| ShellsburgCity | 3.9 mi | 0.8 |
| HiawathaCity | 4.9 mi | 4.8 |
| AtkinsCity | 5.6 mi | 1.1 |
| RobinsCity | 6.2 mi | 6 |
| Center PointCity | 8.5 mi | 2.7 |
| Cedar RapidsCity | 9 mi | 74.6 |
| FairfaxCity | 9.5 mi | 3.6 |
| NewhallCity | 9.7 mi | 0.3 |
| AlburnettCity | 11 mi | 0.8 |
| MarionCity | 12 mi | 18 |
| UrbanaCity | 13 mi | 1.8 |
| NorwayCity | 13 mi | 0.4 |
| WalfordCity | 13 mi | 1 |
| VintonCity | 13 mi | 4.9 |
| WatkinsCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| Van HorneCity | 15 mi | 0.9 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Palo, IA in?
- Palo is in Linn County, Iowa.
- What is the population of Palo, IA?
- About 1,438 people live in Palo, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Palo?
- Nearby places include Shellsburg (3.9 mi), Hiawatha (4.9 mi), Atkins (5.6 mi), Robins (6.2 mi), Center Point (8.5 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023