The Town FilesDonnellson, Iowa
City in Lee County · population 885 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,800
- Household income
- $54,453
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.7
Donnellson is a city of 885 people in Lee County, Iowa. The median home is worth $147,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Iowa towns, quieter than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Donnellson 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 Donnellson is worth $147,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $54,453, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $644 a month. 71.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Donnellson | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $644 | $820 |
| Median household income | $54,453 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Donnellson
| People | Donnellson | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Donnellson
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 39.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Donnellson since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 10, 2003 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 27, 1965.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| 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 |
| September 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4392: Severe Storm And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 13,719 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,333 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Donnellson itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Donnellson
3 public schools with 1,270 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Lee Elementary School | PK-5 | 672 | 17.7 |
| Central Lee High School | 9-12 | 318 | 13.3 |
| Central Lee Middle School | 6-8 | 280 | 21.5 |
Towns near Donnellson
- West Point, IA7.5 mi · 921 people · home $178,700
- Farmington, IA9.2 mi · 579 people · home $81,400
- Montrose, IA11.3 mi · 738 people · home $103,500
- Fort Madison, IA11.5 mi · 10,270 people · home $94,200
- Nauvoo, IL11.8 mi · 950 people · home $156,700
- Kahoka, MO17.3 mi · 1,961 people · home $100,000
- Keokuk, IA18.4 mi · 9,900 people · home $104,300
- Danville, IA19.8 mi · 927 people · home $158,500
Donnellson questions
Is Donnellson, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Donnellson scores better for retirees than 57% of Iowa towns and quieter than 82%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in Donnellson?
The median owner-occupied home in Donnellson is valued at $147,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,453, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $644 a month.
What is the weather like in Donnellson?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 26.6 inches of snow.
Does Donnellson get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Donnellson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 10, 2003. 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)