At a Glance
Median Income
$65,667
$36,113 per capita
Home Value
$82,000
Zillow: $261,778
Median Rent
$642/mo
13.6% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
8.6%
87.1% high school+
Unemployment
0.0%
0.0% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.8%
15.2% smoking rate
How Dawson Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Dawson's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Dawson a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.7 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Dawson residents earn a median household income of $65,667 , which is 13% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $36,113. The unemployment rate stands at 0.0% (100% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 0.0% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,600 business establishments, including 211 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Dawson is $82,000 , 71% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $261,778. Median rent is $642/month, with 13.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1938.
Education
8.6% of adults in Dawson hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(74% below the national average).
87.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Dawson has an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C).
Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.1 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population108
Median Age44.5 yrs
Density216/mi²
Male / Female65% / 35%
Foreign Born0.9%
Veterans8.7%
Economy
A
Median Income$65,667
Per Capita$36,113
Unemployment0.0%
Poverty0.0%
County GDP$11,107M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,468
Housing
A+
Home Value$82,000
Rent$642
Ownership81.5%
Zillow$261,778
Housing Units73
Rent Burden13.6%
Health
Obesity35.8%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking15.2%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death4,244/100K
Climate
Avg Temp49°F
Rain36.1 in/yr
Elevation1,036 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+8.6%
High School+87.1%
Graduate+0.0%
School Score6.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 52% / D 47%
Commute21 min
Broadband75.9%
Internet Speed123 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries12
Did You Know?
The median home in Dawson was built in 1938.
The nearest airport is Des Moines International (36 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.435 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
9.3% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 123 Mbps.
There are 211 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 10 fatal vehicle crashes.