The Town FilesBadger, Iowa
City in Webster County · population 522 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,800
- Household income
- $72,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 42.5
Badger is a city of 522 people in Webster County, Iowa. The median home is worth $142,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 86% of Iowa towns, quieter than 75% of Iowa towns.
How Badger 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 Badger is worth $142,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $72,750, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $750 a month. 85.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Badger | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $750 | $820 |
| Median household income | $72,750 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Badger
| People | Badger | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Badger
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Badger since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 4, 1977 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 105 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 22, 1997.
Severe weather in Webster County since 1996
Webster County has been included in 20 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Webster County
Webster County had 17,547 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,709 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Badger itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Badger
- Fort Dodge, IA7.4 mi · 24,871 people · home $144,100
- Dakota City, IA8.0 mi · 759 people · home $119,800
- Humboldt, IA8.6 mi · 4,792 people · home $173,600
- Coalville, IA12.1 mi · 651 people · home $197,500
- Eagle Grove, IA12.8 mi · 3,601 people · home $104,600
- Goldfield, IA14.3 mi · 634 people · home $108,000
- Webster City, IA19.6 mi · 7,825 people · home $127,200
- Manson, IA21.0 mi · 1,709 people · home $116,900
Badger questions
Is Badger, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Badger scores better for retirees than 53% of Iowa towns and quieter than 75%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Badger?
The median owner-occupied home in Badger is valued at $142,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,750, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $750 a month.
What is the weather like in Badger?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 39.0 inches of snow.
Does Badger get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Badger since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 4, 1977. 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)