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Alta

A city of 2,250 people in Iowa
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Around town

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Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.

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Around town

The places and views that make it Alta

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Outdoors in Alta

Parks & trails →
Conserved land0%none recorded
Trails0.0 mi0 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves2named on the map

Know a trail or park that’s missing? Anyone can add it to OpenStreetMap, and it shows up here on the next refresh.

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

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Know Alta

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Alta

City in Iowa, USA
1872Established
2,087Population
1.1 sq miArea
1,490 ftElevation

Alta is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,087 at the 2020 census.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code51002
Area code712
Living in Alta

Housing in Alta

$217K▲ 1.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Alta home is worth about $217,000, up 1.1% in a year, 10% below the Iowa typical home.

Only 3 sales in May 2026, too few for a market read. The typical value is the steadier guide.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Alta

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Most working residents leave Alta for work: only 8% work in town. The top destinations are Storm Lake (47%), Sioux City (3%) and Cherokee (3%). Half commute less than 7 miles.

Storm Lake
47%
Sioux City
3%
Cherokee
3%
Aurelia
2%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Alta →

Health in Alta

B

Health Grade B

Healthier than 64% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 85% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Iowa

1worse than IA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 31 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Buena Vista Regional Medical CenterStorm Lake · 4.6 mi · ER · rural critical access
United Community Health Center of Storm Lake - ReplacementStorm Lake · 5.1 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careShortage · county-wide
DentalShortage · county-wide
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Alta · CMS · HRSAHealth in Alta →

Natural hazards in Alta

28
Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 28% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🧊 Hail
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Alta →

Climate in Alta

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Alta has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 9°, and about 38 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

29° / 12°Winter
57° / 36°Spring
81° / 60°Summer
60° / 38°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Alta →

Schools in Alta

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B+

School Grade B+

The public schools Alta’s kids attend outperform 69% of Iowa’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictAlta-Aurelia Comm School DistrictSchools2

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within IA. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from Alta

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How things work in Alta

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The coffee’s on

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Alta is your selected town. The feed includes posts assigned to this town, not a distance radius or ZIP code.

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Boundary source: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/18 · 2025-01-01