The Town Files

Cherokee County, Iowa

11,600 people. The median home is worth $158,700 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $71,269.

Towns in Cherokee County

Towns in Cherokee County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Cherokee5,199$136,700$61,75043.2

People and housing

Cherokee CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$158,700$156,300
Median rent$758$820
Median household income$71,269$69,254
Median age44.040.2
Bachelor's degree or higher23.4%21.8%
Below the poverty line12.1%9.3%

Jobs and pay

4,858 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,452 a year.

Largest industries in Cherokee CountyHealth care & social assistan…833 jobs · $48,206Retail508 jobs · $32,802Transportation & warehousing498 jobs · $66,492Manufacturing426 jobs · $61,257Hotels & restaurants297 jobs · $14,153Construction243 jobs · $60,657
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Cherokee County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 2.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 644 storm events in Cherokee County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Cherokee County by type since 1996Hail152Flood42Drought53Tornado18Blizzard26High Wind24Flash Flood25Winter Storm37Excessive Heat21Winter Weather92
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Cherokee County has been included in 23 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 24, 2024Severe StormDR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
May 24, 2024Severe StormDR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 23, 2022Severe StormDR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
March 23, 2019FloodDR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).