Jesse J. and Mary F. Allee House · National Register of Historic Places
Newell’s story
156 years in pictures
1 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1870Newell is settled
NewellIA
A town of 944, settled in 1870. A typical home worth about $176K.
Photo: Scott A. Miller · CC BY 3.0
Population
944
+3.4% since 2010
Typical home
$176K
−2% in a year
Household income
$67K
median
Median age
36.1
years
Jobs based here
255
A commuter town
What makes Newell stand out
The 2 things Newell does most differently from other towns.
Small town
944 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Newell’s report card
Now in Newell
What neighbors are saying. Town Square →
Residents weigh in
Live in Newell? Is a C+ for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Newell’s Town Square.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Newell. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About one in seven working residents works right in Newell
Most working residents leave Newell for work: only 14% work in town. The top destinations are Storm Lake (42%), Spencer (4%) and Sioux City (3%). Half commute less than 11 miles.
14%work in town
Where working residents work
In Newell14%
Storm Lake42%
Spencer4%
Sioux City3%
Algona2%
11 mi
median commute distance
255
jobs based in Newell
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
A typical Newell home is worth about $176K
The typical Newell home is worth about $176,000, down 2% in a year, 26% below the Iowa typical home.
$176KZillow home value
Typical home value
Newell$176K
Iowa$240K
−2%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Newell has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 9°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
31″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–30°
Spring36–58°
Summer60–82°
Fall38–61°
Oct 13
typical first frost
Apr 25
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 34% of U.S. communities.
34risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Schools
Newell’s public schools outperform 37% of Iowa districts
The public schools Newell’s kids attend trail 63% of Iowa’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
C+School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newell-Fonda Elementary | PK–5 | 280 | C+ |
| Newell-Fonda Middle School | 6–8 | 124 | C |
| Newell-Fonda High School | 9–12 | 138 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state testsAll 3 schools →
Health
How healthy Newell is
Newell tracks Iowa closely on all 32 CDC measures.
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center
11.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
A commuter town
86% of working residents leave Newell for work
Where Newell’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
255jobs based in Newell
14%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Newell
City in Iowa, USA
Newell is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 906 according to the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1870
- Population
- 906
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,263 ft
- ZIP code
- 50568