The Town FilesClarence, Iowa
City in Cedar County · population 1,039 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,300
- Household income
- $56,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 36.9
Clarence is a city of 1,039 people in Cedar County, Iowa. The median home is worth $154,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 89% of Iowa towns, quieter than 77% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Clarence 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 Clarence is worth $154,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $56,250, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $888 a month. 66.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clarence | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $888 | $820 |
| Median household income | $56,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clarence
| People | Clarence | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Clarence
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarence since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 6.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 10, 1962.
Severe weather in Cedar County since 1996
Cedar County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cedar County
Cedar County had 5,170 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,261 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Clarence itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Clarence
1 public school with 273 students, about 10.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Cedar Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 273 | 10.1 |
Towns near Clarence
- Stanwood, IA4.7 mi · 637 people · home $145,000
- Lowden, IA7.2 mi · 807 people · home $119,800
- Tipton, IA8.8 mi · 3,149 people · home $165,500
- Olin, IA8.8 mi · 651 people · home $108,500
- Mechanicsville, IA10.1 mi · 1,020 people · home $161,400
- Wheatland, IA11.9 mi · 775 people · home $119,100
- Wyoming, IA12.3 mi · 523 people · home $105,700
- Lisbon, IA17.3 mi · 2,233 people · home $219,700
Clarence questions
Is Clarence, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clarence scores better for retirees than 70% of Iowa towns and quieter than 77%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Clarence?
The median owner-occupied home in Clarence is valued at $154,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,250, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $888 a month.
What is the weather like in Clarence?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 39.8 inches of snow.
Does Clarence get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clarence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)