The Town FilesElkader, Iowa
City in Clayton County · population 1,209 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,200
- Household income
- $62,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 40.5
Elkader is a city of 1,209 people in Clayton County, Iowa. The median home is worth $143,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 83% of Iowa towns, better transit than 79% of Iowa towns.
How Elkader 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 Elkader is worth $143,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $62,857, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $859 a month. 74.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elkader | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $859 | $820 |
| Median household income | $62,857 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elkader
| People | Elkader | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Elkader
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 6.3°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkader since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1954 about 2.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 25 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 12, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 11, 2017.
Severe weather in Clayton County since 1996
Clayton County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Clayton County
Clayton County had 6,230 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,349 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Elkader itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Elkader
2 public schools with 479 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Elementary | PK-6 | 277 | 15.4 |
| Central Middle School/High School | 7-12 | 202 | 13.5 |
Towns near Elkader
- Garnavillo, IA8.5 mi · 763 people · home $123,100
- Monona, IA13.3 mi · 1,471 people · home $140,800
- Elgin, IA13.6 mi · 685 people · home $98,800
- Strawberry Point, IA13.9 mi · 1,155 people · home $114,700
- Edgewood, IA14.7 mi · 909 people · home $173,700
- Guttenberg, IA15.6 mi · 1,817 people · home $193,900
- Clermont, IA16.0 mi · 586 people · home $117,200
- McGregor, IA16.1 mi · 742 people · home $161,100
Elkader questions
Is Elkader, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elkader scores better for retirees than 95% of Iowa towns and quieter than 66%. 27.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Elkader?
The median owner-occupied home in Elkader is valued at $143,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,857, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $859 a month.
What is the weather like in Elkader?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 6.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 35.6 inches of snow.
Does Elkader get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkader since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1954. 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)