2004 · IAMap-doton-Ossian · Wikimedia Commons
Ossian’s story
Ossian in pictures
2 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
Explore the history →OssianIA
A town of 806. A typical home worth about $282K.
Population
806
−5.1% since 2010
Typical home
$282K
+8.7% in a year
Household income
$72K
median
Median age
42.9
years
Jobs based here
469
Balanced
What makes Ossian stand out
The thing Ossian does most differently from other towns.
Small town
806 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Ossian’s report card
Now in Ossian
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Ossian? Is a B for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Ossian’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Ossian. Another town gets a different order.
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Ossian has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 8°, and about 40 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
40″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–28°
Spring35–56°
Summer59–79°
Fall38–58°
Oct 3
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Housing
A typical Ossian home is worth about $282K
The typical Ossian home is worth about $282,000, up 8.7% in a year, 18% above the Iowa typical home.
$282KZillow home value
Typical home value
Ossian$282K
Iowa$240K
+8.7%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Ossian
Most working residents leave Ossian for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are Decorah (35%), Cedar Rapids (3%) and Cresco (3%). Half commute less than 11 miles.
6%work in town
Where working residents work
In Ossian6%
Decorah35%
Cedar Rapids3%
Cresco3%
Dubuque2%
11 mi
median commute distance
469
jobs based in Ossian
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
How healthy Ossian is
Ossian beats the Iowa average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
32 measures vs. Iowa
4 better27 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Ossian | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5.1% | 6.4% |
| Fewer adults without reliable transportation | 5.6% | 6.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.3% | 8.7% |
Winnmed
10.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Schools
Ossian’s public schools outperform 58% of Iowa districts
The public schools Ossian’s kids attend outperform 58% of Iowa’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.
BSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Winneshiek Elementary School | PK–4 | 198 | C |
| South Winneshiek Middle School | 5–8 | 126 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state testsAll 2 schools →
Outdoors
0.2% of Ossian is conserved land
0.0 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
0.2%conserved
0.2%
conserved · 1 of 681 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ossian City Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 50% of U.S. communities.
50risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHail
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
About Ossian
City in Iowa, United States
Ossian (pronounced|ˈosh-ain) is a city in Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 802 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 802
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,266 ft
- ZIP code
- 52161