Melvin is a Republican stronghold. About 17% of voters here vote Democratic and 83% Republican.
About 81% of adults in Melvin typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in Melvin, ~14% vote Democratic, ~67% Republican, and ~19% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How Melvin compares
Among cities within 25 miles, Melvin leans more Republican than 29 of 37 neighbors.
Melvin runs about 52 points more Republican than Iowa as a whole.
Why Melvin leans the way it does
Density, race composition, education, and family structure all sit close to their national averages in Melvin. The lean here lands roughly where demographic data alone would predict.
Walkability and Republican lean
Places with a low walkability score tend to lean Republican; Melvin, IA sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in Melvin looks the way it does
Turnout in Melvin sits close to the national pattern. Routine healthcare access, homeownership, education, and food security all land near their national averages here. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Cities
- Sanborn, IA R+58
- Ocheyedan, IA R+65
- Hartley, IA R+54
- Ashton, IA R+67
- Sibley, IA R+49
- Allendorf, IA R+65
- Harris, IA R+66
- Sheldon, IA R+49
- Primghar, IA R+57
- Moneta, IA R+59
Cities with Similar Populations
- Sherman Junction, TX R+59
- Dorchester, TX R+62
- Doskie, MS R+82
- Chestnut Mound, TN R+66
- Mossy Head, FL R+70
- Fleming, PA R+28
- West Andrews, SC R+15
- Littles Corners, PA R+48
- Longtown, MS R+3
- Pike, OR R+30
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Iowa Secretary of State, Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.