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Living in
Le Mars.
About
Life in Le Mars
Le Mars is a community of 10,597 people in Iowa. The median household income is $74,701, median rent runs about $929 per month, and median home values are around $219,200. Unemployment is low at 2.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Le Mars at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Foreign-Born
6.5%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
+1.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Le Mars: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Le Mars, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.3%), and 7.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.2%
of residents
65 and Older
18.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.3%
of households
Married Couples
49.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.40
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IA
Rent, home values, and income in Le Mars
Rent and home values here are close to the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
31.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,373
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1975
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $280,343 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below IA average
Unemployment in Le Mars
Unemployment in Plymouth County, which includes Le Mars, is 0.9 percentage points lower than the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Le Mars: Plymouth County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Plymouth County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Le Mars Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.3 min avg
How Le Mars residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Le Mars, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 29 mi
Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field (SUX)
Regional airport · few flights29k passengers boarded in 2025
- 104 mi
Eppley Airfield (OMA)
Medium hub2.6M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Le Mars runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
168.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
570.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Le Mars Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 35 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
49.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Plymouth County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Plymouth County, which includes Le Mars, the most common type is winter weather, with 35 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 35 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 26 | Excessive Heat | $1.6M |
| 2023 | 32 | Drought | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 26 | Drought | $310,000 |
| 2020 | 24 | Winter Weather | $11,000 |
| 2019 | 24 | Flood | $2.3M |
| 2018 | 33 | Flood | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Plymouth County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Woodbury County, IA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 27 miles from Le Mars) is typically good — 226 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
226
per year
Moderate Days
55
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Woodbury County, IA (27 mi away)
Climate83°F summers, 11°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Le Mars has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 11°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
30°/11°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
30.0"
Annual Snowfall
30.9"
Hot Days/Year
17
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
160
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
77
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°F | 7°F | 0.72" |
| Feb | 32°F | 11°F | 0.87" |
| Mar | 46°F | 23°F | 1.85" |
| Apr | 60°F | 34°F | 3.07" |
| May | 72°F | 47°F | 3.90" |
| Jun | 81°F | 58°F | 4.64" |
| Jul | 85°F | 62°F | 3.11" |
| Aug | 82°F | 59°F | 3.95" |
| Sep | 76°F | 50°F | 3.14" |
| Oct | 63°F | 37°F | 2.40" |
| Nov | 46°F | 24°F | 1.30" |
| Dec | 32°F | 13°F | 1.04" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Le Mars
Le Mars has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Floyd Valley Healthcare
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Le Mars
Le Mars's student/teacher ratio is 15.6:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 21.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Missouri National Recreational River, 72 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Le Mars
Le Mars has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Missouri National Recreational River (72 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Missouri National Recreational River
National Recreational River
72 mi awayPipestone National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayPublic Libraries in Le Mars
Le Mars Public Library
46 1st St Sw, Le Mars
Cities Near Le Mars
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Le Mars?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Le Mars FAQ
Is Le Mars, Iowa affordable?⌄
Le Mars's median rent is $929/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $74,701/year. Median home value is $219,200.
Is Le Mars, Iowa safe?⌄
Le Mars's violent crime rate was 168 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 571 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Le Mars, Iowa?⌄
Plymouth County, which includes Le Mars, has an unemployment rate of 2.6%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Le Mars, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Le Mars is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $929/month and median household income is $74,701/year. The median home value is $219,200. About 31% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Le Mars, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Le Mars is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from