The Town FilesArmstrong, Iowa
City in Emmet County · population 875 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $90,500
- Household income
- $58,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 55.5
Armstrong is a city of 875 people in Emmet County, Iowa. The median home is worth $90,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 96% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 89% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Armstrong 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 Armstrong is worth $90,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $58,250, which is more affordable than 91% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $632 a month. 81.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Armstrong | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $632 | $820 |
| Median household income | $58,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Armstrong
| People | Armstrong | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 15.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Armstrong
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.5°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Armstrong since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 21, 1953 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 17, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 26, 1998.
Severe weather in Emmet County since 1996
Emmet County has been included in 19 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Emmet County
Emmet County had 3,286 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,094 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Armstrong itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Armstrong
1 public school with 186 students, about 11.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Union High School | 9-12 | 186 | 11.6 |
Towns near Armstrong
- Swea City, IA8.7 mi · 566 people · home $56,400
- Bancroft, IA15.1 mi · 699 people · home $120,700
- Graettinger, IA17.3 mi · 832 people · home $88,500
- Fairmont, MN17.3 mi · 10,487 people · home $169,900
- Estherville, IA17.6 mi · 5,904 people · home $101,400
- Welcome, MN19.8 mi · 710 people · home $101,600
- Elmore, MN21.3 mi · 549 people · home $46,700
- Emmetsburg, IA21.7 mi · 3,706 people · home $114,300
Armstrong questions
Is Armstrong, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Armstrong scores better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns and quieter than 96%. 36.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.5).
How much does a house cost in Armstrong?
The median owner-occupied home in Armstrong is valued at $90,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,250, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $632 a month.
What is the weather like in Armstrong?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Armstrong get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Armstrong since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 21, 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)