The Town FilesHarlan, Iowa
City in Shelby County · population 4,893 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,500
- Household income
- $57,488
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 44.6
Harlan is a city of 4,893 people in Shelby County, Iowa. The median home is worth $152,500, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 97% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 79% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Harlan 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 Harlan is worth $152,500, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $57,488, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $783 a month. 72.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harlan | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $783 | $820 |
| Median household income | $57,488 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Harlan
| People | Harlan | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 13.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Harlan
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 10.3°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harlan since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 26, 2024 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 30, 2014.
Severe weather in Shelby County since 1996
Shelby County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms 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 Shelby County
Shelby County had 5,460 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,072 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Harlan itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Harlan
4 public schools with 1,491 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlan High School | 9-12 | 477 | 13.3 |
| Harlan Primary | PK-2 | 347 | 18.3 |
| Harlan Community Middle School | 6-8 | 343 | 17.2 |
| Harlan Intermediate School | 3-5 | 324 | 16.2 |
Towns near Harlan
- Atlantic, IA23.7 mi · 6,792 people · home $149,900
- Denison, IA25.3 mi · 8,373 people · home $150,200
Harlan questions
Is Harlan, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harlan scores better for retirees than 79% of Iowa towns and quieter than 22%. 23.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Harlan?
The median owner-occupied home in Harlan is valued at $152,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,488, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $783 a month.
What is the weather like in Harlan?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 10.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 30.5 inches of snow.
Does Harlan get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harlan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 26, 2024. 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)