The Town Files

Howard County, Iowa

9,445 people. The median home is worth $147,800 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $67,446.

Towns in Howard County

Towns in Howard County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Cresco3,888$117,200$60,60838.5

People and housing

Howard CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$147,800$156,300
Median rent$713$820
Median household income$67,446$69,254
Median age39.240.2
Bachelor's degree or higher19.5%21.8%
Below the poverty line8.9%9.3%

Jobs and pay

4,402 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,223 a year.

Largest industries in Howard CountyManufacturing1,251 jobs · $54,639Retail455 jobs · $31,526Agriculture, forestry & fishi…298 jobs · $45,439Construction215 jobs · $60,480Finance & insurance159 jobs · $70,899Wholesale trade153 jobs · $74,329
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Howard County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 428 storm events in Howard County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Howard County by type since 1996Hail76Flood14Drought24Tornado25Blizzard19High Wind16Heavy Rain10Heavy Snow18Flash Flood20Winter Storm46
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

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

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 24, 2024Severe StormDR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
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
August 20, 2018Severe StormDR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).