The Town FilesAnita, Iowa
City in Cass County · population 963 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,400
- Household income
- $66,307
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 45.4
Anita is a city of 963 people in Cass County, Iowa. The median home is worth $134,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Iowa towns, quieter than 75% of Iowa towns, better for families than 73% of Iowa towns.
How Anita 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 Anita is worth $134,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $66,307, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $579 a month. 82.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Anita | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $579 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,307 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Anita
| People | Anita | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Anita
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anita since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 27, 1953 about 3.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 5, 2000.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 2, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1880: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 5,866 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,005 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Anita itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Anita
1 public school with 207 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAM Jr./Sr. High School | 7-12 | 207 | 12.9 |
Towns near Anita
- Adair, IA7.4 mi · 791 people · home $127,800
- Exira, IA11.8 mi · 787 people · home $84,700
- Atlantic, IA13.7 mi · 6,792 people · home $149,900
- Fontanelle, IA15.1 mi · 676 people · home $103,000
- Elk Horn, IA18.4 mi · 601 people · home $133,200
- Greenfield, IA18.5 mi · 2,062 people · home $137,700
- Audubon, IA20.7 mi · 2,053 people · home $97,700
- Guthrie Center, IA21.3 mi · 1,593 people · home $123,800
Anita questions
Is Anita, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Anita scores better for retirees than 27% of Iowa towns and quieter than 75%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.4).
How much does a house cost in Anita?
The median owner-occupied home in Anita is valued at $134,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,307, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $579 a month.
What is the weather like in Anita?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 26.8 inches of snow.
Does Anita get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Anita since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 27, 1953. 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)