The Town FilesEarly, Iowa
City in Sac County · population 587 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $90,300
- Household income
- $91,370
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 35.3
Early is a city of 587 people in Sac County, Iowa. The median home is worth $90,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Iowa towns, quieter than 85% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Iowa towns.
How Early 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 Early is worth $90,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.0 times the median household income of $91,370, which is more affordable than 99% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $620 a month. 68.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Early | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $90,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $620 | $820 |
| Median household income | $91,370 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Early
| People | Early | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 1.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Early
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 7.8°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Early since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 9, 2011 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 2023.
Severe weather in Sac County since 1996
Sac County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 24, 2014 | Flood | DR-4184: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sac County
Sac County had 2,969 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,518 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Early itself the ACS puts it at 11.5%.
Public schools in Early
1 public school with 141 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schaller-Crestland Ridge View Middle School | 6-8 | 141 | 15.7 |
Towns near Early
- Schaller, IA7.7 mi · 729 people · home $71,500
- Sac City, IA8.4 mi · 2,063 people · home $136,000
- Lakeside, IA10.9 mi · 700 people · home $246,400
- Odebolt, IA11.6 mi · 994 people · home $98,800
- Lake View, IA12.5 mi · 1,113 people · home $175,600
- Newell, IA12.7 mi · 906 people · home $122,600
- Storm Lake, IA12.8 mi · 11,269 people · home $172,200
- Wall Lake, IA13.7 mi · 755 people · home $128,700
Early questions
Is Early, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Early scores better for retirees than 27% of Iowa towns and quieter than 85%. 12.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Early?
The median owner-occupied home in Early is valued at $90,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,370, so homes cost about 1.0 times income. Median rent is $620 a month.
What is the weather like in Early?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 7.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 33.0 inches of snow.
Does Early get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Early since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 9, 2011. 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)