The Town FilesAlbert City, Iowa
City in Buena Vista County · population 677 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,500
- Household income
- $80,972
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 46.2
Albert City is a city of 677 people in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The median home is worth $96,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 86% of Iowa towns, quieter than 83% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 74% of Iowa towns.
How Albert City 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 Albert City is worth $96,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $80,972, which is more affordable than 98% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $784 a month. 83.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Albert City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $784 | $820 |
| Median household income | $80,972 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Albert City
| People | Albert City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Albert City
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.2°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.3 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
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albert City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 9, 2011 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 18, 1960.
Severe weather in Buena Vista County since 1996
Buena Vista County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Buena Vista County
Buena Vista County had 10,683 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,893 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Albert City itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Public schools in Albert City
1 public school with 104 students, about 10.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albert City-Truesdale Elementary School | PK-6 | 104 | 10.4 |
Towns near Albert City
- Laurens, IA6.9 mi · 1,264 people · home $60,300
- Newell, IA12.2 mi · 906 people · home $122,600
- Sioux Rapids, IA12.6 mi · 748 people · home $88,700
- Pocahontas, IA14.7 mi · 1,867 people · home $106,100
- Fonda, IA14.8 mi · 636 people · home $58,500
- Storm Lake, IA15.8 mi · 11,269 people · home $172,200
- Lakeside, IA16.2 mi · 700 people · home $246,400
- Alta, IA19.6 mi · 2,087 people · home $146,600
Albert City questions
Is Albert City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Albert City scores better for retirees than 86% of Iowa towns and quieter than 83%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.2).
How much does a house cost in Albert City?
The median owner-occupied home in Albert City is valued at $96,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,972, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $784 a month.
What is the weather like in Albert City?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 36.3 inches of snow.
Does Albert City get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albert City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2011. 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)