The Town FilesGilman, Iowa
City in Marshall County · population 542 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,700
- Household income
- $101,136
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 39.5
Gilman is a city of 542 people in Marshall County, Iowa. The median home is worth $88,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Iowa towns, quieter than 89% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 88% of Iowa towns.
How Gilman 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 Gilman is worth $88,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 0.9 times the median household income of $101,136, which is more affordable than 100% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 85.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gilman | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $678 | $820 |
| Median household income | $101,136 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gilman
| People | Gilman | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Gilman
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 38.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.7 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
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gilman since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 16, 1978 about 8.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on August 16, 1987.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Marshall County
Marshall County had 16,042 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,625 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Gilman itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Gilman
1 public school with 153 students, about 19.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Marshall Middle School | 6-8 | 153 | 19.1 |
Towns near Gilman
- Le Grand, IA8.9 mi · 905 people · home $145,700
- Grinnell, IA10.4 mi · 9,564 people · home $209,500
- Marshalltown, IA12.3 mi · 27,591 people · home $127,700
- Tama, IA12.5 mi · 3,130 people · home $106,800
- Kellogg, IA12.7 mi · 606 people · home $115,800
- Toledo, IA13.2 mi · 2,369 people · home $118,400
- Melbourne, IA16.7 mi · 786 people · home $155,400
- Newton, IA18.1 mi · 15,760 people · home $153,700
Gilman questions
Is Gilman, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gilman scores better for retirees than 32% of Iowa towns and quieter than 89%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Gilman?
The median owner-occupied home in Gilman is valued at $88,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,136, so homes cost about 0.9 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Gilman?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.2 inches of precipitation a year and 27.7 inches of snow.
Does Gilman get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gilman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 16, 1978. 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)