Denison ranks #3 in Iowa for low depression
Denison is ranked on 35 lists against the 143 Iowa towns with 2,500+ residents. It makes the top 10 on 1 and the top quarter on 3.
A podium finish, and more
Each list ranks every IA town with 2,500+ residents. Tap one to see the whole list with Denison marked.
Denison lands in the top half on 7 of 22 lists
Each dot is Denison’s spot on one list: the left end is #1 in IA, the right end is last. Areas where Denison does best come first.
Younger than 87% of Iowa
Not better or worse, just Denison’s character, from the lists where neither end is the “good” one. The most distinctive come first.
2 spots from the top 10 for short commutes
Lists where Denison sits just outside a milestone, and what it would take to get in.
Every IA list, and where Denison lands
41 lists from Census, school, health, library, crime, climate and land data. Tap any list to see every town on it.
Getting around
Shortest commute#1 Storm Lake · 10.1 min
#12 Cost of living
Most affordable#1 Chariton · 1.1 yrs
#45
Cheapest rent#1 Emmetsburg · $624/mo
#15
Lowest property tax#1 Fort Madison · $1,420/yr
#65
Rent easiest to afford#1 Grimes · 27.9%
Health
Healthiest#1 Solon · 95 / 100
#138
Lowest obesity#1 Solon · 29%
#131
Fewest smokers#1 North Liberty · 10%
#105
Most active#1 North Liberty · 15%
#142
Fewest uninsured#1 Robins · 4%
#143
Lowest depression#1 West Liberty · 17%
#3
Closest to a top hospital#1 Spencer · 0.5 mi
#137 Outdoors
Most conserved land#1 Polk City · 65.8%
#43
Most trails#1 Asbury · 2.5 mi / sq mi
#56
Most walkable#1 Sibley · 100 / sq mi
#76 
Schools
Best schools#1 Mitchellville · +23.5 pts
#114
Highest graduation rate#1 Dyersville · 99%
#65 People
Most educated#1 Ames · 65.8%
#124
Youngest#1 Postville · 23.2
#18
Oldest#1 Jefferson · 53.6
#125
Most residents 65+#1 Jefferson · 31.5%
#123
Most kids#1 Postville · 39.6%
#38 
Housing
Vacation-home towns#1 Clear Lake · 18.8%
#87
Most new homes#1 Tiffin · 41.1 per 1,000
#127
Fastest-rising home prices#1 Sibley · +84.5%
#95
Housing hasn't kept up#1 Tama · 11.0 per home
The number on the right is Denison’s spot. All of Iowa’s rankings, with the map → · National lists and other states: all rankings.
Do the numbers ring true?
The lists count what can be counted. Neighbors know the rest.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
- 2,500+ residents. Census estimates for smaller towns carry margins of error too wide to rank fairly, so they sit out every IA list.
- One town, one row. A city that is both a city and a town in Census data, or a village inside a town, is counted once.
- Ties share a rank. Towns on one weather station, one school district or one CDC estimate share a figure, so they share a spot (T).
- No “worst” lists. Lists rank toward the good end, and share cards are made only for the top half. Age, snow and the like are character, not grades.
U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, 2010 and 2020 censuses, Building Permits Survey), U.S. Department of Education, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, CDC PLACES, Medicare Care Compare, IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FHFA House Price Index, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. Each list explains its own method.