1936 · Main street of Dickens, Iowa · Library of Congress
Dickens’s story
Dickens in pictures
5 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
DickensIA
A town of 131.
Population
131
residents
Typical home
$245K
+11.8% in a year
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
55.1
years
Jobs based here
68
Balanced
Small town
131 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Dickens’s report card
Now in Dickens
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dickens. Another town gets a different order.
Who lives here
Fewer children than Iowa overall, and fewer college graduates
Children under 18 are 9% of residents (23% statewide); people 65 and older are 28% of residents (18% statewide). 5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
55.1median age · IA 38.6
DickensIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
23%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school49%
Some college24%
Associate’s15%
Bachelor’s4%
Graduate1%
| Dickens | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 3.1% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.1% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12.2% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.9% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 0% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 21.4% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 22.9% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14.5% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.8% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 48.5% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.3% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.6% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 3.9% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 1% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 100, single groups can be off by several pointsBy the numbers →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 69% of U.S. communities.
69risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHailTornadoes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Dickens has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 7°, and about 43 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–28°
Spring35–57°
Summer60–81°
Fall37–60°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Dickens
Most working residents leave Dickens for work: only 0% work in town. The top destinations are Spencer (33%), Milford (6%) and Spirit Lake (5%). Half commute less than 16 miles.
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Dickens0%
Spencer33%
Milford6%
Spirit Lake5%
Sioux Falls5%
16 mi
median commute distance
68
jobs based in Dickens
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
How healthy Dickens is
Dickens beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better31 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Dickens | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5.2% | 6.4% |
Spencer Municipal Hospital
6.2 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Housing
A typical Dickens home is worth about $245K
The typical Dickens home is worth about $245,000, up 11.8% in a year, close to the Iowa typical home.
$245KZillow home value
Typical home value
Dickens$245K
Iowa$240K
+11.8%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
About Dickens
City in Iowa, USA
Dickens is a city in Clay County, Iowa, United States. The population was 146 in the 2020 census, a decline from 202 in 2000.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 146
- Area
- 0.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,335 ft
- ZIP code
- 51333