The Town FilesFarley, Iowa
City in Dubuque County · population 1,766 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $266,000
- Household income
- $97,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 34.3
Farley is a city of 1,766 people in Dubuque County, Iowa. The median home is worth $266,000, 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 Farley 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 Farley is worth $266,000, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $97,143, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $991 a month. 73.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Farley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $991 | $820 |
| Median household income | $97,143 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Farley
| People | Farley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Farley
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 34.6 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
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Farley since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 13, 1990 about 7.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 15, 1961.
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 Farley itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Farley
2 public schools with 931 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drexler Middle School | 6-8 | 658 | 13.7 |
| Farley Elementary School | PK-5 | 273 | 14.4 |
Towns near Farley
- Epworth, IA4.0 mi · 2,023 people · home $239,900
- Dyersville, IA6.1 mi · 4,477 people · home $234,100
- Peosta, IA8.6 mi · 1,908 people · home $336,000
- Cascade, IA9.8 mi · 2,386 people · home $196,200
- Asbury, IA12.6 mi · 5,943 people · home $339,000
- Earlville, IA13.6 mi · 716 people · home $161,400
- Hopkinton, IA14.1 mi · 622 people · home $127,400
- Dubuque, IA15.9 mi · 59,667 people · home $204,800
Farley questions
Is Farley, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Farley scores better for retirees than 21% of Iowa towns and quieter than 17%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Farley?
The median owner-occupied home in Farley is valued at $266,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,143, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $991 a month.
What is the weather like in Farley?
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 34.6 inches of snow.
Does Farley get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Farley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 13, 1990. 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)