Winterset
What’s happening
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Weather
Forecast →Upcoming events
Put the next local happening — a market, a meeting, a concert — on the map.
Local news
Headlines via Google News · Articles belong to their publishers.
The Winterset album
Outdoors in Winterset
Parks & trails →Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
1907
Winterset, IA, 1907
Photo · Library of Congress
Landmark of the day
All 24 historic places →Miller Richard and Mary Fisher Tidrick House
The Miller Richard and Mary Fisher Tidrick House is a historic residence located in Winterset, Iowa, United States. Miller Tidrick was an Ohio native who settled in Winterset in 1858 and was a member of a well-connected family in town.
About Winterset
City in Iowa, United StatesWinterset is a city in the county seat of Madison County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,353 at the time of the 2020 census. Located in rolling farmland 35 miles south of Des Moines, Winterset is part of the Des Moines metropolitan area. It is known most notably for being the birthplace of actor John Wayne.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
How Winterset ranks
All →Town numbers
Housing in Winterset
The typical Winterset home is worth about $294,000, up 0.5% in a year, 23% above the Iowa typical home.
A buyer's market
Safety in Winterset
Not graded
A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Winterset's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.
Work & commute in Winterset
Full picture →About one in 4 of Winterset’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Des Moines (13%), West Des Moines (12%) and Urbandale (4%). Half commute less than 22 miles.
Health in Winterset
Health Grade B+
Healthier than 69% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 88% of towns with similar incomes.
Compared with Iowa
of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 26 are too close to call.
What stands out
Care nearby
Natural hazards in Winterset
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 15% of U.S. communities.
Climate in Winterset
Full climate →Winterset has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
Schools in Winterset
All Winterset schools →School Grade B+
The public schools Winterset’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 67% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IA. Ratings are from neighbors.
Winterset’s library
Library details →Famous people from Winterset
See all 11 →Where Winterset is
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