The Town FilesAkron, Iowa
City in Plymouth County · population 1,558 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,900
- Household income
- $66,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 41.2
Akron is a city of 1,558 people in Plymouth County, Iowa. The median home is worth $157,900, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 80% of Iowa towns, better for families than 77% of Iowa towns.
How Akron 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 Akron is worth $157,900, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $66,250, which is more affordable than 41% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $710 a month. 70.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Akron | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $710 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Akron
| People | Akron | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Akron
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 29.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Akron since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 14, 1967 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 11, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 5, 1960.
Severe weather in Plymouth County since 1996
Plymouth County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 24, 2014 | Flood | DR-4184: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Plymouth County
Plymouth County had 11,726 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,524 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Akron itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Akron
3 public schools with 563 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron Westfield Elementary School | K-5 | 245 | 10.7 |
| Akron Westfield Senior High School | 9-12 | 188 | 11.1 |
| Akron Westfield Middle School | 6-8 | 130 | 21.7 |
Towns near Akron
- Elk Point, SD11.8 mi · 2,149 people · home $248,500
- Hawarden, IA12.6 mi · 2,700 people · home $136,300
- Alcester, SD14.5 mi · 820 people · home $125,800
- Ireton, IA15.7 mi · 590 people · home $156,600
- Merrill, IA17.1 mi · 717 people · home $166,100
- Vermillion, SD18.9 mi · 11,695 people · home $219,000
- Hinton, IA19.3 mi · 935 people · home $263,100
- Ponca, NE19.7 mi · 907 people · home $201,000
Akron questions
Is Akron, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Akron scores better for retirees than 93% of Iowa towns and quieter than 53%. 30.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Akron?
The median owner-occupied home in Akron is valued at $157,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,250, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $710 a month.
What is the weather like in Akron?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 36.6 inches of snow.
Does Akron get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Akron since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 14, 1967. 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)