The Town FilesAurelia, Iowa
City in Cherokee County · population 968 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,900
- Household income
- $71,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 52.0
Aurelia is a city of 968 people in Cherokee County, Iowa. The median home is worth $139,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 99% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 97% of Iowa towns.
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Iowa
- #5 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Iowa
- #6 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Iowa
- #10 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Iowa
- #14 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Iowa
- #22 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
How Aurelia 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 Aurelia is worth $139,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $71,500, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $780 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Aurelia | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $780 | $820 |
| Median household income | $71,500 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Aurelia
| People | Aurelia | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 1.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Aurelia
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 31.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aurelia since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 7, 1984 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 23 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 Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 4,858 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,452 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Aurelia itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Aurelia
2 public schools with 356 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alta-Aurelia Middle School | 5-8 | 240 | 13.3 |
| Aurelia Elementary School | PK-4 | 116 | 12.9 |
Towns near Aurelia
- Cherokee, IA6.4 mi · 5,199 people · home $136,700
- Alta, IA7.3 mi · 2,087 people · home $146,600
- Storm Lake, IA13.1 mi · 11,269 people · home $172,200
- Lakeside, IA14.7 mi · 700 people · home $246,400
- Holstein, IA16.5 mi · 1,501 people · home $114,400
- Schaller, IA16.6 mi · 729 people · home $71,500
- Sutherland, IA18.2 mi · 629 people · home $101,200
- Sioux Rapids, IA19.1 mi · 748 people · home $88,700
Aurelia questions
Is Aurelia, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Aurelia scores better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns and quieter than 99%. 30.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.0).
How much does a house cost in Aurelia?
The median owner-occupied home in Aurelia is valued at $139,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,500, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $780 a month.
What is the weather like in Aurelia?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37.8 inches of snow.
Does Aurelia get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Aurelia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 7, 1984. 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)