The Town FilesDe Soto, Iowa
City in Dallas County · population 915 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,700
- Household income
- $97,109
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 41
- Median age
- 32.0
De Soto is a city of 915 people in Dallas County, Iowa. The median home is worth $227,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 98% of Iowa towns, better for families than 96% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Iowa towns.
How De Soto 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 De Soto is worth $227,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $97,109, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,089 a month. 84.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | De Soto | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,089 | $820 |
| Median household income | $97,109 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in De Soto
| People | De Soto | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in De Soto
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Soto since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 0.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 86 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 28, 2017.
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 De Soto itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in De Soto
1 public school with 333 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeSoto Intermediate School | 5-6 | 333 | 13.3 |
Towns near De Soto
- Van Meter, IA3.5 mi · 1,484 people · home $264,000
- Adel, IA4.9 mi · 6,153 people · home $327,900
- Earlham, IA6.5 mi · 1,410 people · home $267,600
- Waukee, IA7.5 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
- Redfield, IA10.3 mi · 731 people · home $142,800
- Dallas Center, IA10.3 mi · 1,901 people · home $246,800
- Dexter, IA11.4 mi · 640 people · home $163,500
- West Des Moines, IA11.9 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
De Soto questions
Is De Soto, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, De Soto scores better for retirees than 35% of Iowa towns and quieter than 35%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.0).
How much does a house cost in De Soto?
The median owner-occupied home in De Soto is valued at $227,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,109, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,089 a month.
What is the weather like in De Soto?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 33.7 inches of snow.
Does De Soto get tornadoes?
41 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of De Soto 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)