The Town FilesFort Dodge, Iowa
City in Webster County · population 24,871 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,100
- Household income
- $60,649
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 37.6
Fort Dodge is a city of 24,871 people in Webster County, Iowa. The median home is worth $144,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 89% of Iowa towns, hipper than 83% of Iowa towns.
How Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge is worth $144,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $60,649, which is more affordable than 41% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $785 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Dodge | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,100 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $785 | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,649 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Fort Dodge
| People | Fort Dodge | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Fort Dodge
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Dodge since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 4, 1977 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 99 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 30, 2014.
Severe weather in Webster County since 1996
Webster County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Webster County
Webster County had 17,547 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,709 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Fort Dodge itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Fort Dodge
7 public schools with 3,470 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Dodge High School | 9-12 | 1,057 | 18.5 |
| Fort Dodge Middle School | 6-8 | 774 | 18.4 |
| Duncombe Elementary School | 1-5 | 454 | 15.1 |
| Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 382 | 15.3 |
| Butler Elementary School | 1-5 | 344 | 13.2 |
| Cooper Elementary School | 1-5 | 238 | 13.2 |
| Feelhaver Elementary School | 1-5 | 221 | 18.4 |
Towns near Fort Dodge
- Humboldt, IA14.9 mi · 4,792 people · home $173,600
- Eagle Grove, IA17.6 mi · 3,601 people · home $104,600
- Webster City, IA18.5 mi · 7,825 people · home $127,200
- Clarion, IA27.4 mi · 2,810 people · home $116,200
Fort Dodge questions
Is Fort Dodge, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Dodge scores better for retirees than 1% of Iowa towns and quieter than 9%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Fort Dodge?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Dodge is valued at $144,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,649, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $785 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Dodge?
July highs average 82.7°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 39.0 inches of snow.
Does Fort Dodge get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Dodge since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 4, 1977. 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)