Primghar is a city in, and the county seat of, O'Brien County, Iowa, United States. The population was 896 at the time of the 2020 census. Primghar is 23.5 miles south of Iowa State Highway 9, 28 miles east of Sioux Center, and 6.75 miles north of Iowa State Highway 10.

Official town website ↗

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

Town numbers

ZIP code51245

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Living in Primghar

Housing in Primghar

$180K▲ 12.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Primghar home is worth about $180,000, up 12.1% in a year, 25% below the Iowa typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Primghar

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Primghar for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Sheldon (24%), Sanborn (9%) and Orange City (5%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Sheldon

24%

Sanborn

Orange City

Paullina

5%Work in townlive and work in Primghar 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 339Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Primghar →

Health in Primghar

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 40% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

3worse than IA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 29 are too close to call.

Conditions 3▼ 9 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.4%More adults with COPDIA 6.9% · worse 8%More adults with heart diseaseIA 6.6% · worse 4%More adults who have had a strokeIA 3.3% · worse

Care nearby

Sanford Sheldon Medical CenterSheldon · 13.3 mi · ER · rural critical access

Community Health Center of SpencerSpencer · 24.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Primghar

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 36% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🧊 Hail

0Does Primghar flood?no paid flood claims on record 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Primghar

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

Climate in Primghar

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Primghar has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 8°, and about 35 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

28° / 11°Winter

57° / 35°Spring

81° / 60°Summer

59° / 37°Fall

How much snow does Primghar get?About 35 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 10, with the last in spring around Apr 29.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 Primghar →

Schools in Primghar

All Primghar schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Primghar’s kids attend trail 67% of Iowa’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictSouth O'Brien Comm School DistrictSchools1

South O'Brien Elem School - Primghar Center B-Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 328 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within IA. Ratings are from neighbors.