Traer is a city in Tama County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,583 at the time of the 2020 census. Traer is known for the iron spiral staircase that originally led to the office of the local newspaper. The staircase is freestanding, reverse-spiral and connected to the building with a suspended walkway, a somewhat rare arrangement.

Official town website ↗

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

Town numbers

ZIP code50675

Area code319

Living in Traer

Housing in Traer

$179K▼ 1.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Traer home is worth about $179,000, down 1.1% in a year, 25% below the Iowa typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Traer

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Traer for work: only 15% work in town. The top destinations are Waterloo (19%), Cedar Falls (8%) and Des Moines (4%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Waterloo

19%

Cedar Falls

Des Moines

Cedar Rapids

15%Work in townlive and work in Traer 22 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 459Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Traer →

Health in Traer

Health Grade B

Healthier than 63% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

9better than IA·3worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 20 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 3▼ 8 close Habits all close Care 4▲ 3 close Mind all close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.3%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethIA 11.6% · better 9.4%Fewer adults facing food insecurityIA 12% · better 11.4%More adults who have had cancerIA 8.7% · worse

Care nearby

Grundy County Memorial HospitalGrundy Center · 19.2 mi · ER · rural critical access

Peoples Clinic - TraerTraer · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Traer

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 40% of U.S. communities.

🌵 Drought🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind

1Does Traer flood?paid flood claims since 2008 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Traer

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

Climate in Traer

Full climate →

Traer has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 10°, and about 34 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

30° / 14°Winter

59° / 37°Spring

82° / 60°Summer

61° / 39°Fall

How much snow does Traer get?About 34 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 9, with the last in spring around Apr 30.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Traer →

Schools in Traer

All Traer schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Traer’s kids attend trail 82% of Iowa’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictNorth Tama County Comm School DistrictSchools2

North Tama Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–6 · 276 students North Tama High School CHigh · Grades 7–12 · 203 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.