Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 15 h 22 min5:38 am – 9:00 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 0 min7:45 am – 4:45 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People818 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 36.3340 householdsMedian household income $78,558Median home value $110,900Median rent $625 a month87% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,260 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting0.0% unemployment rate77% of adults are in the labour force, 469 employedMain industries: education and health care 19%, manufacturing 17%, farming, forestry and mining 16%Average commute 14 minutes78% drive alone, 11% car-pool, 6% walk or cycle, 5% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages20% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher95% finished high school, 3% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 97%, Spanish 2%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 83°F, lows 61°FColdest month January: highs 25°F, lows 6°F34 in of rain a year, on about 63 dayswettest month June37 in of snow a year, on about 19 days10 days above 90°F, 160 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Algona station, 10 mi away; snow from Emmetsburg
Nearby landmarksLake Smithlake · 9.4 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsWhittemore Landpark · under a mileSiems Parkpark · 1.8 miWest Fork Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 4.9 mi · 1,792 acresStinson Prairie State Preservestate conservation land · 5.0 miAmbrose A. Call State Parkstate park · 8.6 mi · 128 acresEast Fork DSM River Wildlife Management Areastate conservation land · 11.6 mi · 116 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
EarthquakesNone of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 1970Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Very LowKossuth County, IA, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsDrought Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality72% of days had good air in 2025263 of 364 days measured92 moderate, 9 unhealthy for sensitive groups daysMedian index 40, worst day 134main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Palo Alto County, IA, 13 mi away
Internet at home91% of households have a broadband subscription68% have cable, fibre or DSL17% rely on a mobile data plan alone8% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterBuffalo Center Muni Water Deptserves 857 people from ground waterNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation1,243 ft379 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalKossuth Regional Health Center9.9 miPost officeWhittemore Post Office1.2 miTown hallWhittemore City Hall1.2 miPoliceWest Bend Police Department8.6 miFire stationWhittemore Volunteer Fire Department1.2 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeIowa Lakes Community College - Emmetsburg Campus14.1 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportFort Dodge Regional Airport FOD38 miMajor airportDes Moines International Airport DSM114 miUS highwayUS 181.2 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 50598 ZIP area.
