The Town Files

Palo Alto County, Iowa

8,863 people. The median home is worth $123,200 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $72,781.

Towns in Palo Alto County

Towns in Palo Alto County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Emmetsburg3,706$114,300$55,83344.7

People and housing

Palo Alto CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$123,200$156,300
Median rent$638$820
Median household income$72,781$69,254
Median age41.940.2
Bachelor's degree or higher19.0%21.8%
Below the poverty line11.6%9.3%

Jobs and pay

3,615 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,406 a year.

Largest industries in Palo Alto CountyManufacturing487 jobs · $67,968Retail402 jobs · $28,440Hotels & restaurants379 jobs · $24,116Agriculture, forestry & fishi…259 jobs · $53,798Construction214 jobs · $64,457Wholesale trade125 jobs · $69,558
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Palo Alto County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 512 storm events in Palo Alto County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Palo Alto County by type since 1996Hail107Flood44Drought36Blizzard34High Wind44Ice Storm12Heavy Rain39Heavy Snow18Flash Flood19Winter Storm36
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Palo Alto County has been included in 23 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 24, 2024Severe StormDR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
February 23, 2022Severe StormDR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
March 23, 2019FloodDR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding
August 20, 2018Severe StormDR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).