The Town FilesCharles City, Iowa
City in Floyd County · population 7,396 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,400
- Household income
- $59,180
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 42.0
Charles City is a city of 7,396 people in Floyd County, Iowa. The median home is worth $115,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Iowa towns, hipper than 94% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 87% of Iowa towns.
How Charles 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 Charles City is worth $115,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $59,180, which is more affordable than 76% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $735 a month. 67.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charles City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $735 | $820 |
| Median household income | $59,180 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Charles City
| People | Charles City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 15.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Charles City
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 8.6°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charles City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 15, 1968 about 0.2 miles from the town center and killed 13. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 13 deaths and 452 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 17, 1996.
Severe weather in Floyd County since 1996
Floyd County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Floyd County
Floyd County had 5,716 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,987 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Charles City itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Charles City
4 public schools with 1,449 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City High School | 9-12 | 522 | 16.8 |
| Charles City Middle School | 5-8 | 378 | 14.0 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | 2-4 | 299 | 16.6 |
| Washington Elementary School | PK-1 | 250 | 10.4 |
Towns near Charles City
- Osage, IA16.6 mi · 3,627 people · home $160,700
- New Hampton, IA18.2 mi · 3,494 people · home $167,700
- Waverly, IA25.9 mi · 10,394 people · home $223,300
- Mason City, IA27.1 mi · 27,338 people · home $142,000
Charles City questions
Is Charles City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charles City scores better for retirees than 33% of Iowa towns and quieter than 24%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Charles City?
The median owner-occupied home in Charles City is valued at $115,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,180, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $735 a month.
What is the weather like in Charles City?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 8.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 37.5 inches of snow.
Does Charles City get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charles City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 15, 1968. 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)