Avoca (Irish: Abhóca, meaning 'the meeting of the waters') is a city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,683 at the 2020 census.

Official town website ↗

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

Town numbers

ZIP code51521

Area code712

Living in Avoca

Housing in Avoca

$239K▲ 0.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Avoca home is worth about $239,000, up 0.6% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home.

Only 1 sale 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 Avoca

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Avoca for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Omaha (10%), Harlan (10%) and Council Bluffs (10%). Half commute less than 20 miles.

Omaha, NE

10%

Harlan

10%

Council Bluffs

10%

Shelby

16%Work in townlive and work in Avoca 20 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 659Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Avoca →

Health in Avoca

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 44% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

2better than IA·3worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 27 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 2▼ 9 close Habits all close Care 1▲ 1▼ 5 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.9%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethIA 11.6% · better 80.7%More adults treating high blood pressureIA 77.8% · better 3.9%More adults who have had a strokeIA 3.3% · worse

Care nearby

Myrtue Medical CenterHarlan · 11.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

New Visions Homeless ServicesCouncil Bluffs · 30.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Avoca · CMS · HRSAHealth in Avoca →

Natural hazards in Avoca

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 57% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🧊 Hail

10Does Avoca flood?paid flood claims since 1979 8Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Avoca

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Avoca →

Climate in Avoca

Full climate →

Avoca has cold winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 28 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

34° / 15°Winter

61° / 38°Spring

83° / 61°Summer

63° / 40°Fall

How much snow does Avoca get?About 28 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 14, with the last in spring around Apr 23.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Avoca →

Schools in Avoca

All Avoca schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Avoca’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 62% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictAHSTW Comm School DistrictSchools3

AHSTW Primary School B+Elementary · Grades PK–3 · 280 students AHSTW Intermediate School BMiddle · Grades 4–8 · 270 students AHSTW High School AHigh · Grades 9–12 · 205 students

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