Peterson’s story
Peterson in pictures
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
PetersonIA
A town of 298. Nearly 26.9% of it is conserved land.
Photo: Bill Whittaker (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
298
residents
Typical home
$178K
+7.8% in a year
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
57.0
years
Jobs based here
22
A commuter town
What makes Peterson stand out
The 2 things Peterson does most differently from other towns.
Small town
298 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Peterson’s report card
Now in Peterson
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Weather
Forecast →70°
Cloudy
Tonight L 60°
Local news
All →- Clay County Search Warrant Results in Drug Arrests in PetersonNorthwest Iowa Now · Jul 21
- Graduate of Jackson County Central Murdered in VirginiaNorthwest Iowa Now · Jul 21
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Peterson. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
Nearly a quarter of Peterson is conserved land
1.1 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
26.9%conserved
26.9%
conserved · 93 of 345 acres
1.1 mi
of trails · 2.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Wanata State Park | — | 38 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Peterson
Most working residents leave Peterson for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Spencer (40%), Sioux City (5%) and Milford (5%). Half commute less than 19 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Peterson1%
Spencer40%
Sioux City5%
Milford5%
Spirit Lake5%
19 mi
median commute distance
22
jobs based in Peterson
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities.
75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHailTornadoes
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Housing
A typical Peterson home is worth about $178K
The typical Peterson home is worth about $178,000, up 7.8% in a year, 26% below the Iowa typical home.
$178KZillow home value
Typical home value
Peterson$178K
Iowa$240K
+7.8%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Peterson 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
Winter11–29°
Spring36–57°
Summer60–81°
Fall38–60°
Oct 5
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Peterson is
Peterson beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3.
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better28 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Peterson | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 80.9% | 77.8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 16.8% | 11.6% |
Cherokee Regional Medical Center
15.1 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Peterson for work
Where Peterson’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
22jobs based in Peterson
1%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Peterson
City in Iowa, US
Peterson is a city in Clay County, Iowa, United States. The population was 322 in the 2020 census, a decline from 372 people in 2000.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 322
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,250 ft
- ZIP code
- 51047
More about Peterson
Still missing for Peterson:archive photosupcoming events