The Town FilesConrad, Iowa
City in Grundy County · population 1,093 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,700
- Household income
- $73,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 48.2
Conrad is a city of 1,093 people in Grundy County, Iowa. The median home is worth $164,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 82% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Iowa towns.
How Conrad 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 Conrad is worth $164,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $73,292, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $840 a month. 71.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Conrad | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $840 | $820 |
| Median household income | $73,292 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Conrad
| People | Conrad | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Conrad
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 10.1°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Conrad since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 30, 1989 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 15, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 13, 2006.
Severe weather in Grundy County since 1996
Grundy County has been included in 15 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 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 31, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4135: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grundy County
Grundy County had 4,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,116 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Conrad itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Conrad
2 public schools with 345 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCLUW Elementary School | PK-4 | 173 | 13.3 |
| BCLUW High School | 9-12 | 172 | 10.1 |
Towns near Conrad
- Gladbrook, IA8.5 mi · 799 people · home $125,200
- Grundy Center, IA11.0 mi · 2,796 people · home $177,900
- Marshalltown, IA13.2 mi · 27,591 people · home $127,700
- Wellsburg, IA14.8 mi · 720 people · home $118,500
- Eldora, IA15.0 mi · 2,663 people · home $133,000
- Le Grand, IA15.8 mi · 905 people · home $145,700
- Reinbeck, IA15.9 mi · 1,662 people · home $165,000
- State Center, IA20.7 mi · 1,391 people · home $167,400
Conrad questions
Is Conrad, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Conrad scores better for retirees than 96% of Iowa towns and quieter than 78%. 31.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Conrad?
The median owner-occupied home in Conrad is valued at $164,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,292, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $840 a month.
What is the weather like in Conrad?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 10.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 31.7 inches of snow.
Does Conrad get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Conrad since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 30, 1989. 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)