2014 · Lester Iowa Main Street · Wikimedia Commons
Lester’s story
Lester in pictures
2 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
LesterIA
A town of 340.
Photo: Chad Knoblock · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
340
residents
Median home value
$191K
Census ACS
Household income
$99K
median
Median age
38.8
years
Jobs based here
92
Balanced
Small town
340 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Lester’s report card
Now in Lester
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The data
Ordered by what stands out in Lester. Another town gets a different order.
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Lester has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 8°, and about 35 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
35″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–28°
Spring35–57°
Summer59–82°
Fall37–59°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Lester
Most working residents leave Lester for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Rock Valley (12%), Larchwood (7%) and Sioux Falls (7%). Half commute less than 16 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Lester1%
Rock Valley12%
Larchwood7%
Sioux Falls7%
Inwood5%
16 mi
median commute distance
92
jobs based in Lester
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
How healthy Lester is
Lester beats the Iowa average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
32 measures vs. Iowa
3 better29 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Lester | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.2% | 11.6% |
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 72.1% | 66.6% |
Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital
8.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 45% of U.S. communities.
45risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHailTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 1993
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
About Lester
City in Iowa, United States
Lester is a city in Lyon County, Iowa, United States. The population was 296 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 296
- Area
- 1.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,411 ft
- ZIP code
- 51242
More about Lester
Still missing for Lester:local news coverageupcoming events