The Town FilesBaxter, Iowa
City in Jasper County · population 962 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,700
- Household income
- $60,952
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 33.9
Baxter is a city of 962 people in Jasper County, Iowa. The median home is worth $166,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 77% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 77% of Iowa towns, better for families than 75% of Iowa towns.
How Baxter 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 Baxter is worth $166,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $60,952, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Baxter | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $900 | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,952 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Baxter
| People | Baxter | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Baxter
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baxter since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1986 about 3.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Jasper County since 1996
Jasper County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Jasper County
Jasper County had 10,453 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,910 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Baxter itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Baxter
2 public schools with 487 students, about 20.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter High School | 6-12 | 261 | 29.0 |
| Baxter Elementary School | PK-5 | 226 | 15.1 |
Towns near Baxter
- Melbourne, IA8.4 mi · 786 people · home $155,400
- Newton, IA10.6 mi · 15,760 people · home $153,700
- Colfax, IA10.9 mi · 2,255 people · home $178,000
- State Center, IA13.1 mi · 1,391 people · home $167,400
- Maxwell, IA13.3 mi · 859 people · home $184,600
- Kellogg, IA14.6 mi · 606 people · home $115,800
- Mitchellville, IA15.4 mi · 2,485 people · home $206,600
- Colo, IA15.6 mi · 845 people · home $152,000
Baxter questions
Is Baxter, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Baxter scores better for retirees than 51% of Iowa towns and quieter than 75%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.9).
How much does a house cost in Baxter?
The median owner-occupied home in Baxter is valued at $166,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,952, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in Baxter?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 28.5 inches of snow.
Does Baxter get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baxter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1986. 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)