The Town FilesGoldfield, Iowa
City in Wright County · population 634 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $108,000
- Household income
- $53,092
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 42.9
Goldfield is a city of 634 people in Wright County, Iowa. The median home is worth $108,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 100% of Iowa towns, better transit than 91% of Iowa towns, hipper than 86% of Iowa towns.
How Goldfield 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 Goldfield is worth $108,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $53,092, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $607 a month. 79.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Goldfield | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $607 | $820 |
| Median household income | $53,092 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Goldfield
| People | Goldfield | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Goldfield
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 6.2°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Goldfield since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 26, 1973 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 20, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 7, 1965.
Severe weather in Wright County since 1996
Wright County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Wright County
Wright County had 6,237 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,576 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Goldfield itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Goldfield
- Eagle Grove, IA4.9 mi · 3,601 people · home $104,600
- Clarion, IA9.5 mi · 2,810 people · home $116,200
- Dakota City, IA14.2 mi · 759 people · home $119,800
- Badger, IA14.3 mi · 522 people · home $142,800
- Kanawha, IA15.1 mi · 658 people · home $77,600
- Humboldt, IA15.6 mi · 4,792 people · home $173,600
- Belmond, IA17.5 mi · 2,463 people · home $129,100
- Webster City, IA19.5 mi · 7,825 people · home $127,200
Goldfield questions
Is Goldfield, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Goldfield scores better for retirees than 61% of Iowa towns and quieter than 100%. 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Goldfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Goldfield is valued at $108,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,092, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $607 a month.
What is the weather like in Goldfield?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 6.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 33.4 inches of snow.
Does Goldfield get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Goldfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 26, 1973. 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)