Grinnell ( grin-EL) is a city in Poweshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,564 at the time of the 2020 census. It is best known for being the home of Grinnell College, a liberal arts college.

Official town website ↗

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

How Grinnell ranks

All →

#9Shortest commute in IA #17Most remote workers in IA #21Best schools in IA All IA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code50112

Area code641

Living in Grinnell

Housing in Grinnell

$218K▲ 7.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Grinnell home is worth about $218,000, up 7.2% in a year, 9% below the Iowa typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Grinnell

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

Grinnell reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 56% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Grinnell 3.1

Iowa 2.4

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Grinnell 12.3

Iowa 12

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Grinnell

Full picture →

49% of Grinnell’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Des Moines (4%), Newton (3%) and Marshalltown (2%). Half commute less than 5 miles.

Des Moines

Newton

Marshalltown

Cedar Rapids

49%Work in townlive and work in Grinnell 5 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 6,036Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Grinnell →

Health in Grinnell

Health Grade B

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

Compared with Iowa

≈Just like Iowa

No difference on any of 32 measures is outside the margin of error.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Nothing stands out: Grinnell tracks Iowa closely.

Care nearby

Grinnell Regional Medical CenterGrinnell · 0.7 mi · ER

Primary Health Care - Marshalltown ClinicMarshalltown · 21.2 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Grinnell

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 21% of U.S. communities.

🌪️ Tornadoes🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind

0Does Grinnell flood?no paid flood claims on record 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Grinnell

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

Climate in Grinnell

Full climate →

Grinnell has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 12°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

32° / 15°Winter

59° / 38°Spring

82° / 61°Summer

61° / 40°Fall

How much snow does Grinnell get?About 31 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 6, with the last in spring around May 3.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Grinnell

All Grinnell schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Grinnell’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 71% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#21Best public schoolsof 139 in IA

DistrictGrinnell-Newburg Comm School DistrictSchools6

Fairview Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–2 · 242 students Davis Elementary School A-Elementary · Grades 3–4 · 213 students Bailey Park Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades K–2 · 147 students Central Iowa Christian SchoolElementary · Grades K–8 · 53 students Grinnell Community Middle School A-Middle · Grades 5–8 · 420 students Grinnell Community Senior High School AHigh · Grades 9–12 · 512 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.