The Town FilesColumbus Junction, Iowa
City in Louisa County · population 1,830 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,800
- Household income
- $63,828
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 33.0
Columbus Junction is a city of 1,830 people in Louisa County, Iowa. The median home is worth $125,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300).
How Columbus Junction 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 Columbus Junction is worth $125,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $63,828, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $623 a month. 75.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus Junction | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $623 | $820 |
| Median household income | $63,828 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Columbus Junction
| People | Columbus Junction | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 27.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 28.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Columbus Junction
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 10.9°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus Junction since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2007 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 25, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Louisa County since 1996
Louisa County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 27, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Louisa County
Louisa County had 3,891 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,348 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Columbus Junction itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Columbus Junction
3 public schools with 686 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roundy Elementary School | PK-6 | 386 | 12.5 |
| Columbus Community High School | 9-12 | 203 | 10.2 |
| Columbus Community Junior High School | 7-8 | 97 | 24.3 |
Towns near Columbus Junction
- Ainsworth, IA9.9 mi · 511 people · home $118,400
- Winfield, IA11.2 mi · 1,033 people · home $100,000
- Wapello, IA11.5 mi · 2,084 people · home $143,900
- Fruitland, IA13.1 mi · 963 people · home $217,700
- Morning Sun, IA14.1 mi · 752 people · home $102,200
- Lone Tree, IA14.7 mi · 1,357 people · home $179,800
- Washington, IA17.2 mi · 7,352 people · home $152,300
- Wayland, IA17.7 mi · 964 people · home $135,500
Columbus Junction questions
Is Columbus Junction, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus Junction scores better for retirees than 19% of Iowa towns and quieter than 41%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.0).
How much does a house cost in Columbus Junction?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus Junction is valued at $125,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,828, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $623 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus Junction?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 10.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 31.3 inches of snow.
Does Columbus Junction get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus Junction since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2007. 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)