The Town FilesGeorge, Iowa
City in Lyon County · population 1,077 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,100
- Household income
- $57,941
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 46.1
George is a city of 1,077 people in Lyon County, Iowa. The median home is worth $133,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 94% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 78% of Iowa towns.
How George 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 George is worth $133,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $57,941, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $810 a month. 77.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | George | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,100 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $810 | $820 |
| Median household income | $57,941 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in George
| People | George | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in George
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 6.1°F. About 29.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of George since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on June 25, 2010 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 12, 2001.
Severe weather in Lyon County since 1996
Lyon County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, 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 Lyon County
Lyon County had 4,794 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,696 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in George itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in George
2 public schools with 191 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| George-Little Rock Senior High School | 9-12 | 124 | 10.3 |
| George-Little Rock Middle School | 7-8 | 67 | 13.4 |
Towns near George
- Rock Rapids, IA10.1 mi · 2,611 people · home $206,700
- Boyden, IA10.6 mi · 701 people · home $177,700
- Doon, IA12.3 mi · 619 people · home $198,900
- Hull, IA12.4 mi · 2,384 people · home $225,700
- Sibley, IA13.7 mi · 2,860 people · home $122,000
- Sheldon, IA13.8 mi · 5,512 people · home $192,700
- Rock Valley, IA17.3 mi · 4,059 people · home $231,200
- Hospers, IA19.3 mi · 718 people · home $155,300
George questions
Is George, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, George scores better for retirees than 64% of Iowa towns and quieter than 94%. 31.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in George?
The median owner-occupied home in George is valued at $133,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,941, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $810 a month.
What is the weather like in George?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 6.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.3 inches of precipitation a year and 37.7 inches of snow.
Does George get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of George since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on June 25, 2010. 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)