The Town FilesDike, Iowa
City in Grundy County · population 1,304 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,800
- Household income
- $91,146
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 39.6
Dike is a city of 1,304 people in Grundy County, Iowa. The median home is worth $247,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 92% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 84% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 81% of Iowa towns.
How Dike 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 Dike is worth $247,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $91,146, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 88.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dike | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $711 | $820 |
| Median household income | $91,146 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 88.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dike
| People | Dike | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Dike
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 36.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dike since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 25, 2008 about 6.9 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 100 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 16, 2007.
Severe weather in Grundy County since 1996
Grundy County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 31, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4135: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grundy County
Grundy County had 4,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,116 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Dike itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Dike
2 public schools with 583 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dike Elementary School | PK-4 | 302 | 14.4 |
| Dike-New Hartford High School | 9-12 | 281 | 13.4 |
Towns near Dike
- New Hartford, IA7.2 mi · 570 people · home $114,700
- Hudson, IA9.1 mi · 2,546 people · home $242,700
- Cedar Falls, IA9.5 mi · 40,713 people · home $263,600
- Reinbeck, IA9.9 mi · 1,662 people · home $165,000
- Grundy Center, IA10.3 mi · 2,796 people · home $177,900
- Parkersburg, IA10.9 mi · 2,015 people · home $196,700
- Waterloo, IA14.1 mi · 67,314 people · home $152,600
- Janesville, IA15.1 mi · 1,034 people · home $221,700
Dike questions
Is Dike, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dike scores better for retirees than 52% of Iowa towns and quieter than 33%. 22.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Dike?
The median owner-occupied home in Dike is valued at $247,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,146, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Dike?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.8 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Dike get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dike since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 25, 2008. 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)