Town guide

Graettinger, Iowa

Graettinger is a city in Palo Alto County, Iowa, home to about 1,096 people across 0.8 square miles. Its ZIP code is 51342.

Homes sold for a median of $98 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.

Population1,0961,461 per sq mi
Median home value$88,500Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$98Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking67%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Graettinger

1 ZIP code

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

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Around Graettinger

Distances

Nearest major airportDes Moines International Airport (DSM)129 miles away
Closer regional airportFort Dodge Regional Airport (FOD)54 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Minneapolis, MN140 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Chicago, IL371 miles away

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

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

Who represents Graettinger

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

Graettinger had 832 residents in the 2020 census, down 8% since 2000.

It’s the 269th largest of 1,019 towns in Iowa by population.

Palo Alto County grew from 14,354 residents in 1900 to 8,996 in 2020.

Graettinger population by census2000: 900, 2010: 844, 2020: 832900200084420108322020

Palo Alto County, 1900–2020

Palo Alto County population, 1900 to 20201900: 14,354, 1910: 13,845, 1920: 15,486, 1930: 15,398, 1940: 16,170, 1950: 15,891, 1960: 14,736, 1970: 13,289, 1980: 12,721, 1990: 10,669, 2000: 10,147, 2010: 9,421, 2020: 8,99614K’00’1015K’20’3016K’40’5015K’60’7013K’80’9010K’00’109K’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 7°F. About 33.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 37 inches of snow.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near GraettingerJan: high 26°F, low 7°F, 0.7 in; Feb: high 31°F, low 12°F, 0.9 in; Mar: high 44°F, low 24°F, 1.8 in; Apr: high 59°F, low 36°F, 3.7 in; May: high 71°F, low 49°F, 4.5 in; Jun: high 82°F, low 59°F, 5.5 in; Jul: high 85°F, low 63°F, 3.8 in; Aug: high 82°F, low 60°F, 4.4 in; Sep: high 76°F, low 51°F, 3.4 in; Oct: high 63°F, low 38°F, 2.4 in; Nov: high 46°F, low 26°F, 1.5 in; Dec: high 32°F, low 14°F, 1.1 in26°7°Jan0.731°12°Feb0.944°24°Mar1.859°36°Apr3.771°49°May4.582°59°Jun5.585°63°Jul3.882°60°Aug4.476°51°Sep3.463°38°Oct2.446°26°Nov1.532°14°Dec1.1Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Emmetsburg, IA weather station (9 miles away).

Jobs in Palo Alto County

2,881 jobs at 272 businesses in Palo Alto County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Palo Alto CountyHealth care and social assistance: 677 jobs; Manufacturing: 579 jobs; Retail trade: 404 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 369 jobs; Construction: 158 jobs; Wholesale trade: 129 jobs; Finance and insurance: 125 jobs; Transportation and warehousing: 118 jobsHealth care and social assistance 24% Manufacturing 20% Retail trade 14% Hotels and restaurants 13% Construction 6% Wholesale trade 5% Finance and insurance 4% Transportation and warehousing 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2022 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

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

Nearest hospitals

  • Palo Alto County HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · Emmetsburg7.8 miles
  • Avera Holy Family HospitalCritical access hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Estherville13.5 miles
  • Spencer Municipal HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Spencer21.3 miles

Providers with an office here

Chiropractors2

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 Graettinger

Parks (1 nearby)

  • Evergreen Park · 10 acres0.9 mi

Libraries

  • Graettinger Public Library1.2 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 Graettinger

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

Public schools (2)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Graettinger-Terril Middle SchoolGraettinger6–848Public1.2 mi
Graettinger-Terril High SchoolGraettinger9–12128Public1.2 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.

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Where Graettinger is

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Towns near Graettinger

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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.