The Town FilesAckley, Iowa
City in Hardin County · population 1,599 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $103,900
- Household income
- $62,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 46.7
Ackley is a city of 1,599 people in Hardin County, Iowa. The median home is worth $103,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 83% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Iowa towns, hipper than 79% of Iowa towns.
How Ackley ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ackley is worth $103,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $62,583, which is more affordable than 88% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $669 a month. 81.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ackley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $669 | $820 |
| Median household income | $62,583 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ackley
| People | Ackley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Ackley
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 38.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ackley since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 25, 2008 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 53 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 10, 2001.
Severe weather in Hardin County since 1996
Hardin County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hardin County
Hardin County had 6,483 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,065 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Ackley itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Ackley
3 public schools with 431 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGWSR Elementary School | K-5 | 204 | 13.6 |
| AGWSR High School | 9-12 | 192 | 12.0 |
| The Cougars Den | PK-K | 35 | 11.7 |
Towns near Ackley
- Aplington, IA8.8 mi · 1,116 people · home $147,500
- Wellsburg, IA10.4 mi · 720 people · home $118,500
- Iowa Falls, IA11.2 mi · 5,106 people · home $123,800
- Eldora, IA13.4 mi · 2,663 people · home $133,000
- Parkersburg, IA14.0 mi · 2,015 people · home $196,700
- Dumont, IA14.4 mi · 634 people · home $74,800
- Hampton, IA15.3 mi · 4,337 people · home $99,400
- Alden, IA16.9 mi · 763 people · home $107,900
Ackley questions
Is Ackley, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ackley scores better for retirees than 33% of Iowa towns and quieter than 83%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in Ackley?
The median owner-occupied home in Ackley is valued at $103,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,583, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $669 a month.
What is the weather like in Ackley?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.1 inches of precipitation a year and 29.9 inches of snow.
Does Ackley get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ackley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 25, 2008. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)