The Town FilesCentral City, Iowa
City in Linn County · population 1,264 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,700
- Household income
- $85,400
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 36.8
Central City is a city of 1,264 people in Linn County, Iowa. The median home is worth $179,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Iowa towns.
How Central City 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 Central City is worth $179,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $85,400, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $782 a month. 77.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $782 | $820 |
| Median household income | $85,400 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Central City
| People | Central City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Central City
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 9.0°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 13, 1990 about 5.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 14 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 18, 1998.
Severe weather in Linn County since 1996
Linn County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Linn County
Linn County had 125,917 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,613 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Central City itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Central City
2 public schools with 399 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central City High School | 6-12 | 225 | 10.7 |
| Central City Elementary School | K-5 | 174 | 11.6 |
Towns near Central City
- Coggon, IA5.3 mi · 701 people · home $164,700
- Alburnett, IA6.2 mi · 675 people · home $199,200
- Springville, IA11.2 mi · 1,154 people · home $182,400
- Marion, IA11.3 mi · 41,535 people · home $241,700
- Robins, IA11.5 mi · 3,353 people · home $413,400
- Hiawatha, IA13.2 mi · 7,183 people · home $216,900
- Center Point, IA13.2 mi · 2,579 people · home $212,400
- Anamosa, IA14.2 mi · 5,450 people · home $172,600
Central City questions
Is Central City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central City scores better for retirees than 59% of Iowa towns and quieter than 64%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Central City?
The median owner-occupied home in Central City is valued at $179,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,400, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $782 a month.
What is the weather like in Central City?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 9.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34.4 inches of snow.
Does Central City get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 13, 1990. 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)