The Town Files

Lyon County, Iowa

12,162 people. The median home is worth $230,000 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $76,746.

Towns in Lyon County

Towns in Lyon County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Rock Rapids2,611$206,700$63,94241.0

People and housing

Lyon CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$230,000$156,300
Median rent$843$820
Median household income$76,746$69,254
Median age38.240.2
Bachelor's degree or higher20.4%21.8%
Below the poverty line5.3%9.3%

Jobs and pay

4,794 jobs in 2024, average pay $49,696 a year.

Largest industries in Lyon CountyHotels & restaurants670 jobs · $36,141Manufacturing658 jobs · $55,579Retail398 jobs · $25,990Construction284 jobs · $54,763Wholesale trade188 jobs · $64,361Finance & insurance183 jobs · $73,721
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Lyon County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 724 storm events in Lyon County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Lyon County by type since 1996Hail167Flood89Drought42Tornado23Blizzard28High Wind24Winter Storm38Excessive Heat19Winter Weather111Cold/Wind Chill15
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Lyon County has been included in 16 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 24, 2024Severe StormDR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, 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
July 24, 2014FloodDR-4184: 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).