The Town FilesElgin, Iowa
City in Fayette County · population 685 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,800
- Household income
- $54,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 51.9
Elgin is a city of 685 people in Fayette County, Iowa. The median home is worth $98,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 95% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Iowa towns, better for families than 80% of Iowa towns.
How Elgin 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 Elgin is worth $98,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $54,688, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $538 a month. 82.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elgin | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $538 | $820 |
| Median household income | $54,688 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elgin
| People | Elgin | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Elgin
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 38.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 30, 1985 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 22 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 |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Fayette County
Fayette County had 6,964 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,847 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Elgin itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Elgin
2 public schools with 501 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Fayette Valley Middle School | 5-8 | 310 | 13.5 |
| Valley Elementary School | PK-4 | 191 | 19.1 |
Towns near Elgin
- Clermont, IA3.2 mi · 586 people · home $117,200
- West Union, IA9.0 mi · 2,490 people · home $121,000
- Postville, IA9.5 mi · 2,503 people · home $104,700
- Fayette, IA11.6 mi · 1,256 people · home $119,000
- Elkader, IA13.6 mi · 1,209 people · home $143,200
- Monona, IA14.0 mi · 1,471 people · home $140,800
- Ossian, IA14.8 mi · 802 people · home $157,600
- Calmar, IA19.5 mi · 1,125 people · home $203,200
Elgin questions
Is Elgin, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elgin scores better for retirees than 69% of Iowa towns and quieter than 95%. 31.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.9).
How much does a house cost in Elgin?
The median owner-occupied home in Elgin is valued at $98,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,688, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $538 a month.
What is the weather like in Elgin?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 39.6 inches of snow.
Does Elgin get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elgin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 30, 1985. 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)