The Town FilesGriswold, Iowa
City in Cass County · population 994 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,900
- Household income
- $55,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 50.0
Griswold is a city of 994 people in Cass County, Iowa. The median home is worth $98,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Iowa towns, quieter than 90% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Griswold 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 Griswold is worth $98,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $55,000, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $907 a month. 78.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Griswold | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $907 | $820 |
| Median household income | $55,000 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Griswold
| People | Griswold | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Griswold
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 11.8°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Griswold since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 13, 1974 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 5, 2003.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 2, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1880: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 5,866 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,005 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Griswold itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Griswold
2 public schools with 436 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griswold Elementary | PK-5 | 239 | 12.0 |
| Griswold Middle/High School | 6-12 | 197 | 11.6 |
Towns near Griswold
- Atlantic, IA12.5 mi · 6,792 people · home $149,900
- Oakland, IA14.5 mi · 1,524 people · home $160,200
- Carson, IA14.6 mi · 766 people · home $181,400
- Red Oak, IA15.8 mi · 5,596 people · home $99,700
- Stanton, IA17.6 mi · 678 people · home $113,400
- Walnut, IA18.1 mi · 747 people · home $115,900
- Avoca, IA20.0 mi · 1,683 people · home $173,800
- Villisca, IA22.6 mi · 1,132 people · home $77,000
Griswold questions
Is Griswold, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Griswold scores better for retirees than 50% of Iowa towns and quieter than 90%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.0).
How much does a house cost in Griswold?
The median owner-occupied home in Griswold is valued at $98,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,000, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $907 a month.
What is the weather like in Griswold?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 11.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 26.4 inches of snow.
Does Griswold get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Griswold since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 13, 1974. 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)