The Town FilesCorning, Iowa
City in Adams County · population 1,564 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,400
- Household income
- $64,773
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 48.9
Corning is a city of 1,564 people in Adams County, Iowa. The median home is worth $96,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 90% of Iowa towns, better transit than 85% of Iowa towns, hipper than 81% of Iowa towns.
How Corning 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 Corning is worth $96,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $64,773, which is more affordable than 93% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $754 a month. 71.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Corning | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $754 | $820 |
| Median household income | $64,773 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Corning
| People | Corning | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Corning
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Corning since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 8, 1999 about 5.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 19, 2013.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 17 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 |
| 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 14, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4181: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 1,187 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,596 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Corning itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Corning
2 public schools with 405 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corning Elementary School | PK-5 | 212 | 11.2 |
| Southwest Valley High school | 9-12 | 193 | 13.8 |
Towns near Corning
- Lenox, IA12.1 mi · 1,339 people · home $111,400
- Villisca, IA13.4 mi · 1,132 people · home $77,000
- Stanton, IA19.0 mi · 678 people · home $113,400
- Creston, IA20.1 mi · 7,536 people · home $114,500
- Bedford, IA22.2 mi · 1,508 people · home $96,800
- Fontanelle, IA22.6 mi · 676 people · home $103,000
- Clarinda, IA23.4 mi · 5,369 people · home $114,200
- Red Oak, IA25.4 mi · 5,596 people · home $99,700
Corning questions
Is Corning, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Corning scores better for retirees than 90% of Iowa towns and quieter than 57%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.9).
How much does a house cost in Corning?
The median owner-occupied home in Corning is valued at $96,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,773, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $754 a month.
What is the weather like in Corning?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 27.8 inches of snow.
Does Corning get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Corning since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 8, 1999. 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)