Town guide

Afton, Iowa

Afton is a city in Union County, Iowa, home to about 817 people across 1.0 square miles. Its ZIP code is 50830.

Homes sold for a median of $114 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.

Population817809 per sq mi
Median home value$95,300Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$114Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking50%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Afton

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Afton. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

The Afton guide is on the way

We’re writing up Afton’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

Are you a local agent who knows Afton well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked

Around Afton

Distances

Nearest major airportDes Moines International Airport (DSM)44 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Omaha, NE98 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Chicago, IL341 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Afton; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Afton

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Afton had 874 residents in the 2020 census, down 5% since 2000.

It’s the 342nd largest of 1,019 towns in Iowa by population.

Union County grew from 19,928 residents in 1900 to 12,138 in 2020.

Afton population by census2000: 917, 2010: 845, 2020: 874917200084520108742020

Union County, 1900–2020

Union County population, 1900 to 20201900: 19,928, 1910: 16,616, 1920: 17,268, 1930: 17,435, 1940: 16,280, 1950: 15,651, 1960: 13,712, 1970: 13,557, 1980: 13,858, 1990: 12,750, 2000: 12,309, 2010: 12,534, 2020: 12,13820K’00’1017K’20’3016K’40’5014K’60’7014K’80’9012K’00’1012K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 85°F in summer, and winter lows average 11°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near AftonJan: high 31°F, low 11°F, 1 in; Feb: high 35°F, low 14°F, 1.5 in; Mar: high 49°F, low 26°F, 2.5 in; Apr: high 61°F, low 36°F, 3.7 in; May: high 71°F, low 49°F, 5.2 in; Jun: high 81°F, low 59°F, 5.2 in; Jul: high 85°F, low 63°F, 4.5 in; Aug: high 83°F, low 61°F, 4.2 in; Sep: high 76°F, low 52°F, 3.7 in; Oct: high 64°F, low 39°F, 2.8 in; Nov: high 48°F, low 26°F, 2.1 in; Dec: high 36°F, low 16°F, 1.5 in31°11°Jan1.035°14°Feb1.549°26°Mar2.561°36°Apr3.771°49°May5.281°59°Jun5.285°63°Jul4.583°61°Aug4.276°52°Sep3.764°39°Oct2.848°26°Nov2.136°16°Dec1.5Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Creston 2 Sw, IA weather station (10 miles away).

Jobs in Union County

4,687 jobs at 305 businesses in Union County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Union CountyManufacturing: 1,185 jobs; Health care and social assistance: 928 jobs; Retail trade: 759 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 370 jobs; Administrative and support: 362 jobs; Wholesale trade: 259 jobs; Other services: 145 jobs; Finance and insurance: 115 jobsManufacturing 25% Health care and social assistance 20% Retail trade 16% Hotels and restaurants 8% Administrative and support 8% Wholesale trade 6% Other services 3% Finance and insurance 3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

2 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Afton.

Nearest hospitals

  • Greater Regional Medical CenterCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Creston10.2 miles
  • Madison County Health Care SystemCritical access hospital · emergency room · Winterset21.9 miles
  • Clarke County HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 5 of 5 · Osceola22.2 miles

Providers with an office here

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants1
Mental health providers1

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Afton

Parks (1 nearby)

  • Afton Town Square · 1 acres0.8 mi

Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Schools in Afton

Public schools here are run by East Union Comm School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (2)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
East Union ElementaryAftonPre-K–5201Public1.3 mi
East Union Middle-High SchoolAfton6–12242Public1.3 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

From OfferBacked · Free

Get matched with a local agent.

Buying or selling around Afton? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.

Get matched

Where Afton is

Loading map…

Towns near Afton

All Iowa towns →

Shares ZIP codes with Arispe.

Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.