Estherville is a friendly, affordable small city of roughly 5,900 people with an easygoing downtown and immediate access to outdoor recreation like Fort Defiance State Park—perfect for post-shift hikes, kayaking and making a multi-week assignment feel like a real home base rather than a dead zone.
You’re also only minutes from the Iowa Great Lakes resort area (Okoboji/Spirit Lake) for boating, dining and weekend energy, and about a 35-mile drive to Spencer for bigger shopping, events and services—so you get relaxed lake life plus a nearby regional hub within easy reach.