Moving to Winterset, Iowa

Approximately Winterset is located at 48 km southwest of Des Moines. Six old-fashioned covered bridges have always added a touch of romance to this sleepy town. But not many people knew about them until the novel The Bridges of Madison County became a best-seller and the basis of a motion picture starring Clint Eastwood and Merle Streep. Each year, Winterset’s Covered Bridge Festival takes place on the second weekend of October, celebrating covered bridges and 19th-century life.

Population: 4,768. Estimated population in July 2024: 4,877 (+2.3% change)
Males: 2,210 (46.4%), Females: 2,558 (53.6%)

Madison County

Zip code: 50273

Demographics

Median resident age: 38.6 years
Median household income: $33,142
Median house value: $85,300

Population by Race

Races in Winterset:

• White Non-Hispanic (98.5%)
• Hispanic (0.6%)
• American Indian (0.5%)
• Two or more races (0.5%)

Ancestries: German (24.9%), Irish (18.4%), United States (11.3%), English (10.7%), Swedish (2.7%), French (2.5%).

Elevation: 1125 feet

Land area: 3.5 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Winterset

• High school or higher: 83.4%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.8%
• Graduate or professional degree: 2.7%
• Unemployed: 6.8%
• Mean travel time to work: 21.0 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Winterset city

• Never married: 17.7%
• Now married: 62.1%
• Separated: 1.7%
• Widowed: 10.5%
• Divorced: 8.1%

0.4% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +292 (+6.5%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Winterset:

• MADISON COUNTY HOSPITAL (300 HUTCHINGS STREET)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Winterset:

• CLARKE COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL (about 27 miles; OSCEOLA, IA)
• ADAIR COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 29 miles; GREENFIELD, IA)
• GREATER COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 32 miles; CRESTON, IA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Winterset:

• DES MOINES INTL (about 29 miles; DES MOINES, IA; Abbreviation: DSM)
• FORT DODGE REGIONAL (about 85 miles; FORT DODGE, IA; Abbreviation: FOD)
• OTTUMWA INDUSTRIAL (about 111 miles; OTTUMWA, IA; Abbreviation: OTM)

Other public-use airports nearest to Winterset:

• WINTERSET-MADISON COUNTY (about 1 miles; WINTERSET, IA; Abbreviation: 3Y3)
• GREENFIELD MUNI (about 30 miles; GREENFIELD, IA; Abbreviation: GFZ)
• OSCEOLA MUNICIPAL (about 31 miles; OSCEOLA, IA; Abbreviation: I75)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Winterset:

• DRAKE UNIVERSITY (about 30 miles; DES MOINES, IA; Full-time enrollment: 4,227)
• DES MOINES COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 39 miles; ANKENY, IA; Full-time enrollment: 6,959)
• GRACELAND UNIVERSITY-LAMONI (about 49 miles; LAMONI, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,026)
• IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 62 miles; AMES, IA; Full-time enrollment: 24,473)
• IOWA CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 81 miles; FT DODGE, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,807)
• NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY (about 91 miles; MARYVILLE, MO; Full-time enrollment: 5,620)
• INDIAN HILLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 113 miles; OTTUMWA, IA; Full-time enrollment: 2,744)

Schools

Public high school in Winterset:

• WINTERSET SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 520; Location: 624 W HUSKY DR; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Winterset:

• WINTERSET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 604; Location: 404 S 2ND AVE; Grades: PK – 04)
• WINTERSET MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 249; Location: 110 W WASHINGTON ST; Grades: 05 – 06)
• WINTERSET JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 241; Location: 720 W HUSKY DR; Grades: 07 – 08)

Libraries

Library in Winterset:

• WINTERSET PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $186,513; Location: 124 W COURT AVE; 45,766 books; 1,354 audio materials; 1,649 video materials; 139 serial subscriptions)