Estherville is a rural city with plenty of outdoor activities
Estherville is a small Northern Iowa city offering buyers a downtown, plenty of single-family homes and access to multiple outdoor attractions. This rural community of over 5,900 has dozens of farms and agricultural businesses surrounding it. However, there are some manufacturing sites, and the city is within commuting distance to job centers in Spirit Lake. “It’s a beautiful city on the west fork of the Des Moines River,” says Mike Clarken, a Realtor with Clarken Realtors, who has lived in Estherville for around 40 years. “You got a wonderful place to [raise kids] and you’ve got services; the city’s services [include] water, sewer, electric, garbage and everybody is serviced with natural gas in the city of Estherville.”
Various housing styles with low HOA presence
Housing styles vary from Victorians and Craftsman’s to bungalows, cottage styles, Cape Cods and split levels. The median housing price is $149,000, lower than the national and state medians. However, prices can range from around $55,000 to $400,000. HOA activity in Estherville is low, Clarken says. Homes closer to downtown are typically on gridded streets with smaller lots and oak trees accenting lawns. Farmsteads and properties with more acres are on the outskirts of the city. Manufactured home communities are also present. Clarken says Estherville has a mix of retirees, families and workers who commute to local job centers.
Public school options and community college for local education
Students can attend the Estherville-Lincoln Central Community School District, graded C-plus on Niche. They can start at Demoney Elementary School, rated C, and continue to Estherville-Lincoln Central Middle, which earns a C-minus. The C-rated Estherville-Lincoln Central High offers courses in business and health. Iowa Lakes Community College has a B-minus and has programs in liberal arts and nursing.
Multiple parks, golf and nature reserves form the bulk of outdoor fun
This community is home to multiple parks, including Thoreson Park, featuring courts, baseball fields and playgrounds. David Spurgin Park has tennis courts and walking trails. Joe Hoye Park has a disc golf course and scenic views of the Des Moines River. The Estherville Golf Course, west of town, is open to the public and has a nine-hole, 2,300-yard course.
Fort Defiance State Park offers hiking trails, camping and birding spots. Multiple game reserves and nature areas surround the city. “Fishing, hunting and boating are alive and well in this part of northern Iowa. We have lots of public land that you can hunt on [and] good rivers to fish,” Clarken says. Events and attractions in Spirit Lake and Okoboji are roughly 15 miles west. Annual events include Sweet Corn Days, a multi-day festival with food vendors, a car show and a parade.
Dining and shopping on Central Avenue
Restaurants are concentrated along Central Avenue and include a mix of chain and local spots. Mother Nature’s Restaurant serves sandwiches, burgers and steaks. Woody’s Pizza also offers pasta dishes and sandwiches. Don Jose Mexican Restaurant serves classics from South of the Border. The Little Swan Lake Winery features a tasting room and a bed and breakfast. There are several grocery and big-box stores in the area, including Hy-Vee, Fairway and Bomgaars. Dollar and convenience stores are also present.
Weather and environmental events in Estherville
Maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency show flooding is possible along the river. Snow, high winds and tornadoes can also occur. A railway line cuts through the city, but Clarken says it only runs to an ethanol plant in Superior.
Local highways provide connections to I-90 and other cities
Estherville does not have any public transit connections and is car-dependent. Highway 4 runs north into Minnesota and connects to Interstate 90, 21 miles away. Highway 9 forms Central Avenue and leads to Spirit Lake. Sioux Falls Regional Airport is 115 miles west, while Minneapolis-St. Paul International is over 180 miles northeast.
Avera Holy Family Hospital is on North Eighth Street and offers lab services and nuclear medicine.
