The Town FilesBritt, Iowa
City in Hancock County · population 2,044 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $101,900
- Household income
- $72,943
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 47.8
Britt is a city of 2,044 people in Hancock County, Iowa. The median home is worth $101,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 97% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 97% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 82% of Iowa towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Iowa
- #10 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Iowa
- #12 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Iowa
- #24 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Iowa
- #43 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #43 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
How Britt 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 Britt is worth $101,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $72,943, which is more affordable than 95% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Britt | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $774 | $820 |
| Median household income | $72,943 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Britt
| People | Britt | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Britt
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 6.3°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Britt since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 7, 1984 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 28, 2018.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hancock County
Hancock County had 5,982 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,900 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Britt itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Britt
2 public schools with 460 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Hancock Elementary School | PK-4 | 290 | 19.3 |
| West Hancock High School | 9-12 | 170 | 10.6 |
Towns near Britt
- Garner, IA10.1 mi · 3,065 people · home $186,300
- Kanawha, IA11.4 mi · 658 people · home $77,600
- Forest City, IA13.8 mi · 4,285 people · home $143,500
- Titonka, IA15.4 mi · 511 people · home $65,800
- Ventura, IA17.1 mi · 711 people · home $389,500
- Belmond, IA20.0 mi · 2,463 people · home $129,100
- Buffalo Center, IA21.3 mi · 857 people · home $100,500
- Algona, IA21.7 mi · 5,487 people · home $160,800
Britt questions
Is Britt, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Britt scores better for retirees than 82% of Iowa towns and quieter than 97%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Britt?
The median owner-occupied home in Britt is valued at $101,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,943, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Britt?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 6.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 37.0 inches of snow.
Does Britt get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Britt 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)