The Town FilesAllison, Iowa
City in Butler County · population 966 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,500
- Household income
- $64,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.3
Allison is a city of 966 people in Butler County, Iowa. The median home is worth $111,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns, quieter than 88% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 86% of Iowa towns.
How Allison 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 Allison is worth $111,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $64,063, which is more affordable than 88% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $740 a month. 72.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Allison | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $740 | $820 |
| Median household income | $64,063 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.3% | — |
Who lives in Allison
| People | Allison | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Allison
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 7.5°F. About 35.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Allison since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 1, 1961 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 14, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 1, 2001.
Severe weather in Butler County since 1996
Butler County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Butler County
Butler County had 3,691 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,211 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Allison itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Allison
1 public school with 271 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Butler Elementary | PK-6 | 271 | 12.9 |
Towns near Allison
- Clarksville, IA6.7 mi · 1,264 people · home $125,900
- Dumont, IA9.0 mi · 634 people · home $74,800
- Greene, IA10.0 mi · 990 people · home $120,700
- Shell Rock, IA11.2 mi · 1,268 people · home $163,100
- Parkersburg, IA12.3 mi · 2,015 people · home $196,700
- Aplington, IA12.6 mi · 1,116 people · home $147,500
- New Hartford, IA15.5 mi · 570 people · home $114,700
- Waverly, IA16.7 mi · 10,394 people · home $223,300
Allison questions
Is Allison, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Allison scores better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns and quieter than 88%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Allison?
The median owner-occupied home in Allison is valued at $111,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,063, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $740 a month.
What is the weather like in Allison?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 7.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.4 inches of precipitation a year and 34.2 inches of snow.
Does Allison get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Allison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 1, 1961. 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)