The Town FilesDayton, Iowa
City in Webster County · population 772 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,800
- Household income
- $57,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 47.6
Dayton is a city of 772 people in Webster County, Iowa. The median home is worth $114,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 87% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Dayton 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 Dayton is worth $114,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $57,500, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $523 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dayton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $523 | $820 |
| Median household income | $57,500 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dayton
| People | Dayton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Dayton
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 9.1°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 15, 2021 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 30, 1998.
Severe weather in Webster County since 1996
Webster County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Webster County
Webster County had 17,547 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,709 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Dayton itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Dayton
1 public school with 205 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton Center | PK-4 | 205 | 12.1 |
Towns near Dayton
- Stratford, IA7.4 mi · 707 people · home $89,300
- Gowrie, IA11.2 mi · 952 people · home $109,900
- Coalville, IA12.5 mi · 651 people · home $197,500
- Ogden, IA15.5 mi · 2,007 people · home $166,000
- Boone, IA17.9 mi · 12,460 people · home $173,000
- Fort Dodge, IA17.9 mi · 24,871 people · home $144,100
- Grand Junction, IA18.0 mi · 725 people · home $77,000
- Webster City, IA18.9 mi · 7,825 people · home $127,200
Dayton questions
Is Dayton, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dayton scores better for retirees than 63% of Iowa towns and quieter than 87%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.6).
How much does a house cost in Dayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dayton is valued at $114,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,500, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $523 a month.
What is the weather like in Dayton?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 9.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 33.7 inches of snow.
Does Dayton get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 15, 2021. 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)