The Town FilesFremont, Iowa
City in Mahaska County · population 708 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $104,900
- Household income
- $78,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 28.6
Fremont is a city of 708 people in Mahaska County, Iowa. The median home is worth $104,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 81% of Iowa towns.
How Fremont 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 Fremont is worth $104,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $78,333, which is more affordable than 96% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 70.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fremont | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $798 | $820 |
| Median household income | $78,333 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fremont
| People | Fremont | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 33.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Fremont
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fremont since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 7, 1984 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 33 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 28, 1990.
Severe weather in Mahaska County since 1996
Mahaska County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Mahaska County
Mahaska County had 7,887 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,503 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Fremont itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Fremont
1 public school with 113 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fremont Elementary | PK-6 | 113 | 11.3 |
Towns near Fremont
- Hedrick, IA7.1 mi · 728 people · home $79,600
- Eddyville, IA10.9 mi · 970 people · home $104,200
- Oskaloosa, IA12.1 mi · 11,558 people · home $153,300
- Ottumwa, IA13.2 mi · 25,529 people · home $106,300
- What Cheer, IA13.6 mi · 607 people · home $49,200
- Sigourney, IA14.6 mi · 2,004 people · home $136,800
- Agency, IA16.3 mi · 620 people · home $157,300
- New Sharon, IA21.1 mi · 1,262 people · home $133,600
Fremont questions
Is Fremont, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fremont scores better for retirees than 60% of Iowa towns and quieter than 81%. 9.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.6).
How much does a house cost in Fremont?
The median owner-occupied home in Fremont is valued at $104,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,333, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Fremont?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.6 inches of snow.
Does Fremont get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fremont since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 7, 1984. 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)