The Town FilesFort Madison, Iowa
City in Lee County · population 10,270 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,200
- Household income
- $50,705
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 42.1
Fort Madison is a city of 10,270 people in Lee County, Iowa. The median home is worth $94,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 93% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 86% of Iowa towns, better transit than 84% of Iowa towns.
How Fort Madison 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 Madison is worth $94,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $50,705, which is more affordable than 76% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $826 a month. 72.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Madison | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $826 | $820 |
| Median household income | $50,705 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Fort Madison
| People | Fort Madison | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Fort Madison
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 16.9°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Madison since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 24, 1967 about 3.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 17, 1992.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: 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 |
| September 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4392: Severe Storm And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 13,719 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,333 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Fort Madison itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Fort Madison
4 public schools with 1,760 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Madison Middle School | 4-8 | 686 | 14.3 |
| Fort Madison High School | 9-12 | 561 | 14.4 |
| Richardson Elementary School | PK-3 | 286 | 11.4 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | K-3 | 227 | 16.2 |
Towns near Fort Madison
- Keokuk, IA14.9 mi · 9,900 people · home $104,300
- Hamilton, IL15.9 mi · 2,753 people · home $114,100
- West Burlington, IA16.5 mi · 3,197 people · home $124,000
- Burlington, IA17.3 mi · 23,982 people · home $114,300
- Mount Pleasant, IA25.8 mi · 9,274 people · home $160,900
Fort Madison questions
Is Fort Madison, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Madison scores better for retirees than 8% of Iowa towns and quieter than 21%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Fort Madison?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Madison is valued at $94,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,705, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $826 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Madison?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 16.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 18.1 inches of snow.
Does Fort Madison get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fort Madison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 24, 1967. 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)