The Town FilesCalmar, Iowa
City in Winneshiek County · population 1,125 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $203,200
- Household income
- $92,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 30.5
Calmar is a city of 1,125 people in Winneshiek County, Iowa. The median home is worth $203,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of Iowa towns, better for families than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Calmar 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 Calmar is worth $203,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $92,500, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $694 a month. 73.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Calmar | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $203,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $694 | $820 |
| Median household income | $92,500 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Calmar
| People | Calmar | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Calmar
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Calmar since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 24, 1971 about 8.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 12, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Winneshiek County since 1996
Winneshiek County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, 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 Winneshiek County
Winneshiek County had 10,479 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,439 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Calmar itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Calmar
1 public school with 195 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Winneshiek High School | 9-12 | 195 | 13.0 |
Towns near Calmar
- Ossian, IA5.7 mi · 802 people · home $157,600
- Decorah, IA9.3 mi · 7,587 people · home $244,500
- West Union, IA15.6 mi · 2,490 people · home $121,000
- Postville, IA16.5 mi · 2,503 people · home $104,700
- Clermont, IA16.6 mi · 586 people · home $117,200
- Cresco, IA18.2 mi · 3,888 people · home $117,200
- Elgin, IA19.5 mi · 685 people · home $98,800
- Waukon, IA20.5 mi · 3,827 people · home $147,200
Calmar questions
Is Calmar, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Calmar scores better for retirees than 37% of Iowa towns and quieter than 39%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.5).
How much does a house cost in Calmar?
The median owner-occupied home in Calmar is valued at $203,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,500, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $694 a month.
What is the weather like in Calmar?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 37.5 inches of snow.
Does Calmar get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Calmar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 24, 1971. 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)