The Town FilesAdair, Iowa
City in Adair County · population 791 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $127,800
- Household income
- $54,550
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 39.2
Adair is a city of 791 people in Adair County, Iowa. The median home is worth $127,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 83% of Iowa towns.
How Adair 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 Adair is worth $127,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $54,550, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $893 a month. 66.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Adair | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $893 | $820 |
| Median household income | $54,550 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Adair
| People | Adair | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Adair
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 9.6°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adair since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 27, 1953 about 4.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 2, 1999.
Severe weather in Adair County since 1996
Adair County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Adair County
Adair County had 3,038 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,135 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Adair itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Adair
2 public schools with 245 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adair-Casey Elementary School | PK-6 | 161 | 11.5 |
| Adair-Casey Jr. High School | 7-8 | 84 | 10.5 |
Towns near Adair
- Anita, IA7.4 mi · 963 people · home $134,400
- Exira, IA13.8 mi · 787 people · home $84,700
- Guthrie Center, IA14.4 mi · 1,593 people · home $123,800
- Fontanelle, IA15.2 mi · 676 people · home $103,000
- Greenfield, IA16.5 mi · 2,062 people · home $137,700
- Stuart, IA16.9 mi · 1,782 people · home $159,500
- Panora, IA19.6 mi · 1,091 people · home $182,000
- Lake Panorama, IA19.7 mi · 1,266 people · home $388,600
Adair questions
Is Adair, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Adair scores better for retirees than 83% of Iowa towns and quieter than 61%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.2).
How much does a house cost in Adair?
The median owner-occupied home in Adair is valued at $127,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,550, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $893 a month.
What is the weather like in Adair?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 9.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 26.3 inches of snow.
Does Adair get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adair since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 27, 1953. 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)