The Town FilesDallas Center, Iowa
City in Dallas County · population 1,901 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $246,800
- Household income
- $95,854
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 41.1
Dallas Center is a city of 1,901 people in Dallas County, Iowa. The median home is worth $246,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better transit than 99% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 86% of Iowa towns, better for families than 81% of Iowa towns.
How Dallas Center ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dallas Center is worth $246,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $95,854, which is more affordable than 30% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,120 a month. 83.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dallas Center | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,120 | $820 |
| Median household income | $95,854 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dallas Center
| People | Dallas Center | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 17.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Dallas Center
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 36.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dallas Center since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 92 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on November 12, 2005.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dallas County
Dallas County had 55,258 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,316 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Dallas Center itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Dallas Center
2 public schools with 716 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School | 5-6 | 537 | 14.5 |
| Dallas Center Elementary | K-4 | 179 | 10.5 |
Towns near Dallas Center
- Adel, IA5.5 mi · 6,153 people · home $327,900
- Waukee, IA8.3 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
- Grimes, IA9.2 mi · 15,392 people · home $304,700
- Granger, IA9.8 mi · 1,654 people · home $329,400
- De Soto, IA10.3 mi · 915 people · home $227,700
- Clive, IA10.6 mi · 18,601 people · home $401,100
- Urbandale, IA10.9 mi · 45,580 people · home $335,500
- Van Meter, IA11.3 mi · 1,484 people · home $264,000
Dallas Center questions
Is Dallas Center, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dallas Center scores better for retirees than 77% of Iowa towns and quieter than 72%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Dallas Center?
The median owner-occupied home in Dallas Center is valued at $246,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,854, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,120 a month.
What is the weather like in Dallas Center?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.1 inches of precipitation a year and 33.5 inches of snow.
Does Dallas Center get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dallas Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1999. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)