The Town FilesGlidden, Iowa
City in Carroll County · population 1,151 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,200
- Household income
- $68,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 41.1
Glidden is a city of 1,151 people in Carroll County, Iowa. The median home is worth $154,200, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 90% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 88% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 73% of Iowa towns.
How Glidden 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 Glidden is worth $154,200, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $68,333, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $525 a month. 76.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Glidden | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $525 | $820 |
| Median household income | $68,333 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Glidden
| People | Glidden | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Glidden
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 10.3°F. About 33.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Glidden since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1995 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Carroll County since 1996
Carroll County has been included in 16 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 |
| March 2, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1880: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 25, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1877: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Carroll County
Carroll County had 10,978 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,662 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Glidden itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Glidden
2 public schools with 393 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glidden-Ralston Elementary School | PK-6 | 237 | 15.8 |
| Glidden-Ralston Jr-Sr High School | 7-12 | 156 | 11.1 |
Towns near Glidden
- Carroll, IA7.1 mi · 10,321 people · home $188,700
- Scranton, IA9.5 mi · 511 people · home $86,300
- Coon Rapids, IA12.9 mi · 1,300 people · home $134,100
- Lake City, IA14.5 mi · 1,731 people · home $100,900
- Breda, IA15.4 mi · 500 people · home $144,600
- Arcadia, IA16.4 mi · 525 people · home $141,100
- Jefferson, IA18.0 mi · 4,182 people · home $155,800
- Manning, IA20.1 mi · 1,455 people · home $120,500
Glidden questions
Is Glidden, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Glidden scores better for retirees than 43% of Iowa towns and quieter than 62%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Glidden?
The median owner-occupied home in Glidden is valued at $154,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,333, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $525 a month.
What is the weather like in Glidden?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 10.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.7 inches of precipitation a year and 31.8 inches of snow.
Does Glidden get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Glidden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1995. 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)