The Town Files

Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

42,632 people. The median home is worth $166,400 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $68,189.

Towns in Cerro Gordo County

Towns in Cerro Gordo County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Mason City27,338$142,000$64,80442.5
Clear Lake7,687$259,500$79,41549.1

People and housing

Cerro Gordo CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$166,400$156,300
Median rent$850$820
Median household income$68,189$69,254
Median age44.040.2
Bachelor's degree or higher24.0%21.8%
Below the poverty line10.6%9.3%

Jobs and pay

23,531 jobs in 2024, average pay $54,949 a year.

Largest industries in Cerro Gordo CountyHealth care & social assistan…5,113 jobs · $67,068Retail3,329 jobs · $34,769Manufacturing2,718 jobs · $61,154Hotels & restaurants2,043 jobs · $21,242Construction1,254 jobs · $75,620Wholesale trade1,059 jobs · $74,227
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Cerro Gordo County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 3.1%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 749 storm events in Cerro Gordo County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Cerro Gordo County by type since 1996Hail159Flood50Drought24Tornado23Blizzard35High Wind55Heavy Rain76Heavy Snow20Flash Flood32Winter Storm38
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Cerro Gordo County has been included in 15 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
August 20, 2018Severe StormDR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
October 31, 2016FloodDR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding
May 27, 2008Severe StormDR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
September 10, 2005HurricaneEM-3239: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).