The Town FilesHartford, Iowa
City in Warren County · population 733 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,700
- Household income
- $70,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 40
- Median age
- 39.1
Hartford is a city of 733 people in Warren County, Iowa. The median home is worth $176,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 82% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 79% of Iowa towns, better for families than 71% of Iowa towns.
How Hartford 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 Hartford is worth $176,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $70,000, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,167 a month. 94.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hartford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,167 | $820 |
| Median household income | $70,000 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 94.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Hartford
| People | Hartford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Hartford
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.8°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartford since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 18, 1974 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 51 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 3, 2001.
Severe weather in Warren County since 1996
Warren County has been included in 18 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 |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Warren County
Warren County had 13,125 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,236 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Hartford itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Hartford
1 public school with 310 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford Upper Elementary | 4-5 | 310 | 16.3 |
Towns near Hartford
- Carlisle, IA5.9 mi · 4,160 people · home $234,300
- Pleasantville, IA8.4 mi · 1,676 people · home $168,300
- Indianola, IA10.6 mi · 15,833 people · home $237,500
- Pleasant Hill, IA11.1 mi · 10,147 people · home $295,100
- Milo, IA11.8 mi · 778 people · home $153,100
- Prairie City, IA12.8 mi · 1,700 people · home $190,600
- Des Moines, IA13.3 mi · 214,133 people · home $194,700
- Altoona, IA13.9 mi · 19,565 people · home $274,600
Hartford questions
Is Hartford, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hartford scores better for retirees than 11% of Iowa towns and quieter than 34%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Hartford?
The median owner-occupied home in Hartford is valued at $176,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,000, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,167 a month.
What is the weather like in Hartford?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 32.3 inches of snow.
Does Hartford get tornadoes?
40 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 18, 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)