Cantril is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States.

[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.51 square miles (1.32 km2), all land.

There were 117 housing units at an average density of 226.3 per square mile (87.4/km2).

The racial makeup of the city was 98.6% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.5% Pacific Islander, and 0.5% from other races.

40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

About 21.7% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 17.5% of those 65 or over.

[10] Cantril was previously in the Fox Valley Community School District.

[13] That district in turn merged into Van Buren County CSD on July 1, 2019.