The Town FilesElk Horn, Iowa
City in Shelby County · population 601 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,200
- Household income
- $64,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 46.4
Elk Horn is a city of 601 people in Shelby County, Iowa. The median home is worth $133,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns, quieter than 85% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Elk Horn 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 Elk Horn is worth $133,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $64,250, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $668 a month. 83.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elk Horn | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $668 | $820 |
| Median household income | $64,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.6% | — |
Who lives in Elk Horn
| People | Elk Horn | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Elk Horn
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk Horn since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 15, 2021 about 7.6 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 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 19, 1964.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms 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 |
Jobs and pay in Shelby County
Shelby County had 5,460 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,072 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Elk Horn itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Elk Horn
1 public school with 188 students, about 9.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExiraElk Horn-Kimballton High School | 6-12 | 188 | 9.9 |
Towns near Elk Horn
- Exira, IA9.3 mi · 787 people · home $84,700
- Walnut, IA10.9 mi · 747 people · home $115,900
- Audubon, IA11.0 mi · 2,053 people · home $97,700
- Atlantic, IA14.0 mi · 6,792 people · home $149,900
- Harlan, IA14.3 mi · 4,893 people · home $152,500
- Avoca, IA16.2 mi · 1,683 people · home $173,800
- Anita, IA18.4 mi · 963 people · home $134,400
- Shelby, IA21.0 mi · 727 people · home $162,500
Elk Horn questions
Is Elk Horn, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elk Horn scores better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns and quieter than 85%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in Elk Horn?
The median owner-occupied home in Elk Horn is valued at $133,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,250, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $668 a month.
What is the weather like in Elk Horn?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 28.7 inches of snow.
Does Elk Horn get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elk Horn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 15, 2021. 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)