The Town FilesGraettinger, Iowa
City in Palo Alto County · population 832 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,500
- Household income
- $82,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 40.2
Graettinger is a city of 832 people in Palo Alto County, Iowa. The median home is worth $88,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better transit than 78% of Iowa towns, quieter than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Graettinger 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 Graettinger is worth $88,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $82,417, which is more affordable than 99% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $518 a month. 80.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Graettinger | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $518 | $820 |
| Median household income | $82,417 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Graettinger
| People | Graettinger | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Graettinger
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Graettinger since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 21, 1953 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 10, 2023.
Severe weather in Palo Alto County since 1996
Palo Alto County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Palo Alto County
Palo Alto County had 3,615 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,406 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Graettinger itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Graettinger
2 public schools with 186 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graettinger-Terril High School | 9-12 | 118 | 11.8 |
| Graettinger-Terril Middle School | 6-8 | 68 | 13.6 |
Towns near Graettinger
- Emmetsburg, IA9.2 mi · 3,706 people · home $114,300
- Ruthven, IA10.5 mi · 725 people · home $105,700
- Estherville, IA12.0 mi · 5,904 people · home $101,400
- Armstrong, IA17.3 mi · 875 people · home $90,500
- Arnolds Park, IA20.9 mi · 1,110 people · home $438,900
- Milford, IA21.2 mi · 3,321 people · home $218,400
- Spencer, IA21.2 mi · 11,325 people · home $184,800
- Okoboji, IA21.9 mi · 768 people · home $299,300
Graettinger questions
Is Graettinger, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Graettinger scores better for retirees than 12% of Iowa towns and quieter than 76%. 10.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Graettinger?
The median owner-occupied home in Graettinger is valued at $88,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,417, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $518 a month.
What is the weather like in Graettinger?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 38.6 inches of snow.
Does Graettinger get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Graettinger since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 21, 1953. 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)