The Town FilesGrimes, Iowa
City in Polk County · population 15,392 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $304,700
- Household income
- $120,037
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 50
- Median age
- 35.4
Grimes is a city of 15,392 people in Polk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $304,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 95% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Grimes 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 Grimes is worth $304,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $120,037, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,251 a month. 70.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grimes | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $304,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,251 | $820 |
| Median household income | $120,037 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 2009 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Grimes
| People | Grimes | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.5% | — |
| Work from home | 22.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Grimes
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
50 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grimes since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 15, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 261 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on July 9, 2021.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 317,845 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,557 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Grimes itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Grimes
5 public schools with 3,037 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Center-Grimes High School | 9-12 | 1,027 | 17.7 |
| Heritage Elementary | PK-4 | 567 | 20.3 |
| DC-G Oak View | 7-8 | 565 | 16.1 |
| South Prairie Elementary | K-4 | 455 | 13.8 |
| North Ridge Elementary | K-4 | 423 | 14.6 |
Towns near Grimes
- Urbandale, IA3.1 mi · 45,580 people · home $335,500
- Johnston, IA4.1 mi · 24,064 people · home $369,100
- Clive, IA4.4 mi · 18,601 people · home $401,100
- Windsor Heights, IA6.8 mi · 5,252 people · home $267,900
- Waukee, IA7.3 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
- Polk City, IA8.3 mi · 5,543 people · home $414,800
- West Des Moines, IA8.9 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
- Saylorville, IA9.0 mi · 3,584 people · home $314,300
Grimes questions
Is Grimes, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grimes scores better for retirees than 20% of Iowa towns and quieter than 11%. 7.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Grimes?
The median owner-occupied home in Grimes is valued at $304,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $120,037, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,251 a month.
What is the weather like in Grimes?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.0 inches of snow.
Does Grimes get tornadoes?
50 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grimes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1999. 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)