The Town FilesAgency, Iowa
City in Wapello County · population 620 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,300
- Household income
- $67,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 51.1
Agency is a city of 620 people in Wapello County, Iowa. The median home is worth $157,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 94% of Iowa towns.
How Agency 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 Agency is worth $157,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $67,813, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. 82.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Agency | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | $67,813 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Agency
| People | Agency | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Agency
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Agency since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 10, 2001.
Severe weather in Wapello County since 1996
Wapello County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 31, 2013 | Flood | DR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wapello County
Wapello County had 15,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,071 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Agency itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Agency
- Ottumwa, IA6.3 mi · 25,529 people · home $106,300
- Eldon, IA7.2 mi · 783 people · home $60,600
- Hedrick, IA12.0 mi · 728 people · home $79,600
- Fremont, IA16.3 mi · 708 people · home $104,900
- Fairfield, IA17.8 mi · 9,416 people · home $156,000
- Bloomfield, IA18.1 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
- Eddyville, IA20.2 mi · 970 people · home $104,200
- Richland, IA20.9 mi · 542 people · home $135,700
Agency questions
Is Agency, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Agency scores better for retirees than 21% of Iowa towns and quieter than 94%. 30.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.1).
How much does a house cost in Agency?
The median owner-occupied home in Agency is valued at $157,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,813, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Agency?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.3 inches of snow.
Does Agency get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Agency since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1999. 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)