The Town FilesEmmetsburg, Iowa
City in Palo Alto County · population 3,706 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,300
- Household income
- $55,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 44.7
Emmetsburg is a city of 3,706 people in Palo Alto County, Iowa. The median home is worth $114,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 97% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 97% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 96% of Iowa towns.
How Emmetsburg 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 Emmetsburg is worth $114,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $55,833, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $624 a month. 69.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emmetsburg | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $624 | $820 |
| Median household income | $55,833 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Emmetsburg
| People | Emmetsburg | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Emmetsburg
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emmetsburg since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 7, 1984 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 24, 2023.
Severe weather in Palo Alto County since 1996
Palo Alto County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Palo Alto County
Palo Alto County had 3,615 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,406 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Emmetsburg itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Emmetsburg
3 public schools with 750 students, about 21.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Elementary School | PK-4 | 285 | 57.0 |
| Emmetsburg High School | 9-12 | 240 | — |
| Emmetsburg Middle School | 5-8 | 225 | 7.5 |
Towns near Emmetsburg
- Estherville, IA21.2 mi · 5,904 people · home $101,400
- Algona, IA22.8 mi · 5,487 people · home $160,800
- Spencer, IA24.0 mi · 11,325 people · home $184,800
- Milford, IA28.2 mi · 3,321 people · home $218,400
Emmetsburg questions
Is Emmetsburg, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emmetsburg scores better for retirees than 74% of Iowa towns and quieter than 14%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Emmetsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Emmetsburg is valued at $114,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,833, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $624 a month.
What is the weather like in Emmetsburg?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 37.1 inches of snow.
Does Emmetsburg get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emmetsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 7, 1984. 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)