The Town Files

Decatur County, Iowa

7,759 people. The median home is worth $113,900 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $59,044.

Towns in Decatur County

Towns in Decatur County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Lamoni1,969$113,400$54,55425.5
Leon1,822$99,800$54,23138.6

People and housing

Decatur CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$113,900$156,300
Median rent$611$820
Median household income$59,044$69,254
Median age36.140.2
Bachelor's degree or higher23.5%21.8%
Below the poverty line14.6%9.3%

Jobs and pay

2,269 jobs in 2024, average pay $42,983 a year.

Largest industries in Decatur CountyRetail289 jobs · $26,579Transportation & warehousing208 jobs · $30,685Wholesale trade107 jobs · $47,133Manufacturing84 jobs · $63,941Construction73 jobs · $44,982Professional & technical serv…21 jobs · $27,397
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Decatur County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 427 storm events in Decatur County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Decatur County by type since 1996Hail80Flood44Drought30Blizzard9High Wind21Ice Storm15Heavy Rain33Heavy Snow24Flash Flood19Winter Storm23
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Decatur County has been included in 14 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
March 23, 2019FloodDR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 14, 2014Severe StormDR-4181: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
May 31, 2013FloodDR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
July 29, 2010Severe StormDR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).