The Town FilesAlton, Iowa
City in Sioux County · population 1,248 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $218,900
- Household income
- $98,036
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 38.1
Alton is a city of 1,248 people in Sioux County, Iowa. The median home is worth $218,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 97% of Iowa towns, better transit than 92% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 91% of Iowa towns.
How Alton 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 Alton is worth $218,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $98,036, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $813 a month. 87.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $813 | $820 |
| Median household income | $98,036 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 87.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Alton
| People | Alton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 14.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Alton
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 9.4°F. About 29.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alton since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 22, 1968 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 25, 2012.
Severe weather in Sioux County since 1996
Sioux County has been included in 15 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sioux County
Sioux County had 22,957 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,762 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Alton itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Alton
1 public school with 320 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOC-Floyd Valley Middle School | 6-8 | 320 | 14.5 |
Towns near Alton
- Orange City, IA2.5 mi · 6,267 people · home $264,000
- Hospers, IA7.9 mi · 718 people · home $155,300
- Sioux Center, IA10.2 mi · 8,229 people · home $290,800
- Remsen, IA12.0 mi · 1,678 people · home $185,900
- Boyden, IA13.9 mi · 701 people · home $177,700
- Hull, IA15.3 mi · 2,384 people · home $225,700
- Marcus, IA15.3 mi · 1,079 people · home $200,000
- Sheldon, IA15.7 mi · 5,512 people · home $192,700
Alton questions
Is Alton, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alton scores better for retirees than 39% of Iowa towns and quieter than 84%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Alton?
The median owner-occupied home in Alton is valued at $218,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,036, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $813 a month.
What is the weather like in Alton?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 9.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 26.6 inches of snow.
Does Alton get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 22, 1968. 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)