The Town FilesFontanelle, Iowa
City in Adair County · population 676 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,000
- Household income
- $67,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 47.0
Fontanelle is a city of 676 people in Adair County, Iowa. The median home is worth $103,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Iowa towns, better transit than 92% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Fontanelle 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 Fontanelle is worth $103,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $67,750, which is more affordable than 93% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $867 a month. 70.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fontanelle | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $867 | $820 |
| Median household income | $67,750 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fontanelle
| People | Fontanelle | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Fontanelle
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 10.8°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fontanelle since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on May 21, 2024 about 4.7 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 20, 1961.
Severe weather in Adair County since 1996
Adair County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Adair County
Adair County had 3,038 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,135 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Fontanelle itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Fontanelle
1 public school with 135 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nodaway Valley Middle School | 6-8 | 135 | 19.3 |
Towns near Fontanelle
- Greenfield, IA5.4 mi · 2,062 people · home $137,700
- Anita, IA15.1 mi · 963 people · home $134,400
- Adair, IA15.2 mi · 791 people · home $127,800
- Creston, IA18.8 mi · 7,536 people · home $114,500
- Stuart, IA19.2 mi · 1,782 people · home $159,500
- Corning, IA22.6 mi · 1,564 people · home $96,400
- Dexter, IA23.2 mi · 640 people · home $163,500
- Atlantic, IA25.0 mi · 6,792 people · home $149,900
Fontanelle questions
Is Fontanelle, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fontanelle scores better for retirees than 92% of Iowa towns and quieter than 37%. 24.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Fontanelle?
The median owner-occupied home in Fontanelle is valued at $103,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,750, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $867 a month.
What is the weather like in Fontanelle?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 10.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 25.5 inches of snow.
Does Fontanelle get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fontanelle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on May 21, 2024. 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)