The Town FilesFonda, Iowa
City in Pocahontas County · population 636 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $58,500
- Household income
- $54,853
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 46.4
Fonda is a city of 636 people in Pocahontas County, Iowa. The median home is worth $58,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns, quieter than 83% of Iowa towns.
How Fonda 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 Fonda is worth $58,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $54,853, which is more affordable than 99% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $546 a month. 68.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fonda | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $58,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $546 | $820 |
| Median household income | $54,853 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1941 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fonda
| People | Fonda | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.8% | — |
| Work from home | 0.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Fonda
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 7.8°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fonda since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 9, 2011 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 7, 1990.
Severe weather in Pocahontas County since 1996
Pocahontas County has been included in 22 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 Pocahontas County
Pocahontas County had 2,644 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,766 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Fonda itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Fonda
- Newell, IA8.3 mi · 906 people · home $122,600
- Pomeroy, IA8.8 mi · 526 people · home $70,200
- Sac City, IA13.5 mi · 2,063 people · home $136,000
- Pocahontas, IA14.1 mi · 1,867 people · home $106,100
- Albert City, IA14.8 mi · 677 people · home $96,500
- Manson, IA16.0 mi · 1,709 people · home $116,900
- Rockwell City, IA16.8 mi · 2,240 people · home $88,500
- Lakeside, IA17.1 mi · 700 people · home $246,400
Fonda questions
Is Fonda, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fonda scores better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns and quieter than 83%. 27.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in Fonda?
The median owner-occupied home in Fonda is valued at $58,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,853, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $546 a month.
What is the weather like in Fonda?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 7.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 34.1 inches of snow.
Does Fonda get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fonda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2011. 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)