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Cresco

A city of 3,908 people in Iowa
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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 Cresco

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Outdoors in Cresco

Parks & trails →
Map of Cresco: conserved land, trails and the top places to walk
Conserved land0.9%20 of 2,133 acres
Trails0.0 mi0 mi per sq mi
Parks & preserves55 conserved acres per 1,000 residents

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

Cresco, IA1908
From Cresco’s story

Cresco, IA, 1908

Photo · Library of Congress

Landmark of the day

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Kellow House

Kellow House

Second Empire · Built 1880 · on the Register since 1977

Kellow House is a historic building located in Cresco, Iowa, United States. Kellow was a native of Cornwall in England who settled in Iowa in 1854.

3 on the National Register · #104 in IAHistoric places →
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Know Cresco

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

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About Cresco

City in Iowa, United States
3,888Population
3.3 sq miArea
1,293 ftElevation

Cresco is a city in Howard County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,888 at the 2020 census, down from 3,905 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howard County.

Official town website ↗

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

Living in Cresco

Housing in Cresco

$217K▲ 9.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Cresco home is worth about $217,000, up 9.3% in a year, 10% below the Iowa typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Cresco

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Cresco's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000
Cresco 1.5
Iowa 2.4
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000
Cresco 2.1
Iowa 12
U.S. 15.5
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Cresco

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44% of Cresco’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Decorah (7%), Cedar Rapids (2%) and Lime Springs (2%). Half commute less than 10 miles.

Decorah
7%
Cedar Rapids
2%
Lime Springs
2%
Waterloo
2%
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Cresco →

Health in Cresco

B

Health Grade B

Healthier than 58% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 83% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Iowa

2worse than IA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 30 are too close to call.

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Care nearby

Regional Health Services of Howard CountyCresco · 0.7 mi · ER · rural critical access
Peoples Clinic Butler CountyClarksville · 49.2 mi · sliding-scale fees
Primary careNo shortage
DentalNo shortage
Mental healthShortage · county-wide
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Cresco · CMS · HRSAHealth in Cresco →

Natural hazards in Cresco

11
Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 11% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes💨 Strong wind
FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Cresco →

Climate in Cresco

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Cresco has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 40 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

27° / 10°Winter
56° / 34°Spring
80° / 58°Summer
58° / 37°Fall
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Cresco →

Schools in Cresco

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B−

School Grade B-

The public schools Cresco’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 54% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Cresco’s schools compare in IA →
DistrictHoward-Winneshiek Comm School DistrictSchools5

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.

Famous people from CrescoWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Cresco.Meet them →

How things work in Cresco

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