The Town FilesDysart, Iowa
City in Tama County · population 1,281 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,300
- Household income
- $67,695
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 39.7
Dysart is a city of 1,281 people in Tama County, Iowa. The median home is worth $158,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 80% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 78% of Iowa towns.
How Dysart 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 Dysart is worth $158,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $67,695, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $766 a month. 80.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dysart | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $766 | $820 |
| Median household income | $67,695 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dysart
| People | Dysart | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Dysart
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dysart since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 9, 1975 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 26, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 11, 1970.
Severe weather in Tama County since 1996
Tama County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 Tama County
Tama County had 5,356 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,774 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Dysart itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Dysart
2 public schools with 406 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dysart-Geneseo Elementary School | PK-5 | 217 | 13.6 |
| Union Middle School | 6-8 | 189 | 12.6 |
Towns near Dysart
- Traer, IA8.0 mi · 1,583 people · home $151,900
- La Porte City, IA11.5 mi · 2,284 people · home $163,200
- Keystone, IA13.2 mi · 599 people · home $148,400
- Vinton, IA14.5 mi · 4,938 people · home $152,300
- Van Horne, IA16.0 mi · 774 people · home $184,500
- Washburn, IA16.6 mi · 870 people · home $142,300
- Gilbertville, IA17.7 mi · 794 people · home $197,400
- Reinbeck, IA17.9 mi · 1,662 people · home $165,000
Dysart questions
Is Dysart, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dysart scores better for retirees than 80% of Iowa towns and quieter than 44%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Dysart?
The median owner-occupied home in Dysart is valued at $158,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,695, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $766 a month.
What is the weather like in Dysart?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 33.7 inches of snow.
Does Dysart get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dysart since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 9, 1975. 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)