The Town FilesElkhart, Iowa
City in Polk County · population 882 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $253,900
- Household income
- $84,554
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 32.9
Elkhart is a city of 882 people in Polk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $253,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 100% of Iowa towns, better for families than 98% of Iowa towns, better transit than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Elkhart 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 Elkhart is worth $253,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $84,554, which is more affordable than 14% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $836 a month. 81.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elkhart | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $253,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $836 | $820 |
| Median household income | $84,554 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elkhart
| People | Elkhart | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Elkhart
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 11.7°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkhart since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1986 about 2.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 71 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 116 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 12, 1956.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 317,845 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,557 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Elkhart itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Elkhart
- Ankeny, IA5.9 mi · 67,887 people · home $331,000
- Cambridge, IA7.5 mi · 827 people · home $178,100
- Bondurant, IA7.7 mi · 7,365 people · home $318,800
- Huxley, IA7.9 mi · 4,244 people · home $297,100
- Maxwell, IA9.4 mi · 859 people · home $184,600
- Saylorville, IA9.5 mi · 3,584 people · home $314,300
- Altoona, IA10.2 mi · 19,565 people · home $274,600
- Polk City, IA10.3 mi · 5,543 people · home $414,800
Elkhart questions
Is Elkhart, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elkhart scores better for retirees than 51% of Iowa towns and quieter than 47%. 9.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.9).
How much does a house cost in Elkhart?
The median owner-occupied home in Elkhart is valued at $253,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,554, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $836 a month.
What is the weather like in Elkhart?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 11.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 24.7 inches of snow.
Does Elkhart get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elkhart since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1986. 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)