The Town FilesEarlham, Iowa
City in Madison County · population 1,410 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,600
- Household income
- $115,086
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 43.0
Earlham is a city of 1,410 people in Madison County, Iowa. The median home is worth $267,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 91% of Iowa towns, better for families than 84% of Iowa towns.
How Earlham 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 Earlham is worth $267,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $115,086, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $770 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Earlham | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $770 | $820 |
| Median household income | $115,086 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Earlham
| People | Earlham | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 17.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Earlham
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 30.9 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
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Earlham since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1995 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 2, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1880: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 4,235 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Earlham itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Earlham
3 public schools with 660 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earlham Elementary School | PK-5 | 316 | 12.6 |
| Earlham Senior High School | 9-12 | 208 | 13.9 |
| Earlham Middle School | 6-8 | 136 | 22.7 |
Towns near Earlham
- Dexter, IA5.6 mi · 640 people · home $163,500
- De Soto, IA6.5 mi · 915 people · home $227,700
- Redfield, IA7.6 mi · 731 people · home $142,800
- Van Meter, IA9.4 mi · 1,484 people · home $264,000
- Adel, IA9.8 mi · 6,153 people · home $327,900
- Stuart, IA10.1 mi · 1,782 people · home $159,500
- Winterset, IA11.8 mi · 5,353 people · home $192,500
- Waukee, IA14.1 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
Earlham questions
Is Earlham, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Earlham scores better for retirees than 42% of Iowa towns and quieter than 56%. 10.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in Earlham?
The median owner-occupied home in Earlham is valued at $267,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $115,086, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $770 a month.
What is the weather like in Earlham?
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 30.9 inches of snow.
Does Earlham get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Earlham since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1995. 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)