The Town FilesEpworth, Iowa
City in Dubuque County · population 2,023 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $239,900
- Household income
- $84,271
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 32.8
Epworth is a city of 2,023 people in Dubuque County, Iowa. The median home is worth $239,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 89% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 82% of Iowa towns, better for families than 80% of Iowa towns.
How Epworth 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 Epworth is worth $239,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $84,271, which is more affordable than 20% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $951 a month. 84.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Epworth | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $239,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $951 | $820 |
| Median household income | $84,271 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Epworth
| People | Epworth | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Epworth
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 39.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Epworth since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 0.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 18, 1955.
Severe weather in Dubuque County since 1996
Dubuque County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dubuque County
Dubuque County had 58,413 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,669 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Epworth itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Epworth
2 public schools with 1,271 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Dubuque High School | 9-12 | 897 | 16.0 |
| Epworth Elementary School | PK-5 | 374 | 13.4 |
Towns near Epworth
- Farley, IA4.0 mi · 1,766 people · home $266,000
- Peosta, IA4.6 mi · 1,908 people · home $336,000
- Asbury, IA9.0 mi · 5,943 people · home $339,000
- Dyersville, IA9.8 mi · 4,477 people · home $234,100
- Cascade, IA10.6 mi · 2,386 people · home $196,200
- Dubuque, IA12.0 mi · 59,667 people · home $204,800
- East Dubuque, IL15.9 mi · 1,505 people · home $144,000
- Earlville, IA17.4 mi · 716 people · home $161,400
Epworth questions
Is Epworth, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Epworth scores better for retirees than 21% of Iowa towns and quieter than 17%. 18.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Epworth?
The median owner-occupied home in Epworth is valued at $239,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,271, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $951 a month.
What is the weather like in Epworth?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.2 inches of snow.
Does Epworth get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Epworth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)