This page delivers traffic analytics for Story County, Iowa. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for Story County, Iowa among 460 road miles divided in 6,620 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 367 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
4,229
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
11.3%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
31.1 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
12.1%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
37.6 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$82,852
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 4,229 vehicles per day in Story County, Iowa that results in 2,315,090 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈845 million per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 9 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 31.1 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the Iowa state averages: At 4,229 vehicles per day, the average monitored road in Story carries 39% more traffic than the state average of 3,042 vehicles per day - a critical factor for logistics and site planning. Network-wide, Story accounts for about 2.8% of Iowa's statewide total, at 2,315,090 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈845 million per year). Journey times run 6% lower than the state level, at 31.1 minutes on average. Congestion runs 6% higher than the state level, at a ratio of 12.1% - more pronounced congestion - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. 96% of counties in Iowa see less traffic than Story's 4,229 vehicles per day. Its average travel time of 31.1 minutes is longer than 16% of counties in Iowa.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
9,703
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
15.8%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
42.8 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
24.5%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
40.8 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$84,845
A significant volume of traffic in Story County, Iowa utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 9,703 vehicles per day, 142% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 4,012 vehicles per day. That average covers 105 highway road miles divided in 253 segments (average segment length 2,186 ft), together carrying 1,262,173 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈461 million per year). That is more highway travel volume than 93% of counties in Iowa. Trucks constitute 15.8% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Highway truck concentration here runs 2% lower than the state average, at 15.8% - positioning Story as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. Story's highway truck share (15.8%) is higher than 61% of counties in Iowa. Story's highway truck count is higher than 81% of counties in Iowa, at roughly 1,531 trucks per day.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
4,012
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
5.9%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
30.7 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
11.6%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
36.4 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$81,549
The non-highway road network in Story County, Iowa supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 4,012 vehicles per day, 59% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 9,703 vehicles per day. That average covers 355 non-highway road miles divided in 6,367 segments (average segment length 295 ft), together carrying 1,052,918 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈384 million per year). Trucks constitute 5.9% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
The concentration of trucks on non-highway roads is 63% lower than on highways. Non-highway congestion (11.6%) runs 4% higher than the state average, pointing to slower local traffic flow. 16% of counties in Iowa see shorter overall travel times than Story. Trip origins here have higher average income than 87% of counties in Iowa. Drivers here also skew toward the lowest median age in Iowa, at 38 years.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 10:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–7:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 70% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 22% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
April–June is the high season, with volumes +7% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -11% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In Story County, Iowa, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is mild at +7% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
Story
Iowa
Average
Difference
Traffic
4,229
3,042
+39.1%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
11.3%
11.0%
+2.5%
Truck % (Highway)
15.8%
16.1%
-2.0%
Avg. Travel Time
31.1 min
33.0 min
-5.7%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 4,229 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Yes - at a median of 38 years, Story has the lowest driver age of any county in Iowa.
Approximately 39% of highway traffic and 9% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside Story County, Iowa. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
Traffic volumes are typically 7% higher during April–June. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 3,753 vehicles per day - a 11% decrease from the annual average.
Drivers on Story roads have a median age of 38 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $82,852 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
The average travel time for drivers is 31.1 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Weekday peaks occur between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM in the morning and between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM in the evening - about 70% above the daily average.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
