The Town FilesHartley, Iowa
City in O'Brien County · population 1,605 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $112,700
- Household income
- $57,656
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 47.9
Hartley is a city of 1,605 people in O'Brien County, Iowa. The median home is worth $112,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns, hipper than 81% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 81% of Iowa towns.
How Hartley 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 Hartley is worth $112,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $57,656, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $779 a month. 79.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hartley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $779 | $820 |
| Median household income | $57,656 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hartley
| People | Hartley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Hartley
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 6.1°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartley since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 1, 1971 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 4, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 8, 2005.
Severe weather in O'Brien County since 1996
O'Brien County has been included in 15 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 |
| 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in O'Brien County
O'Brien County had 6,603 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,407 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Hartley itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Hartley
2 public schools with 482 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School | PK-4 | 274 | 12.5 |
| Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School | 9-12 | 208 | 10.9 |
Towns near Hartley
- Everly, IA8.1 mi · 575 people · home $112,000
- Sanborn, IA9.0 mi · 1,392 people · home $168,500
- Primghar, IA9.7 mi · 896 people · home $147,500
- Sutherland, IA14.3 mi · 629 people · home $101,200
- Spencer, IA16.5 mi · 11,325 people · home $184,800
- Paullina, IA17.3 mi · 982 people · home $132,600
- Sheldon, IA18.5 mi · 5,512 people · home $192,700
- Lake Park, IA20.0 mi · 1,167 people · home $168,800
Hartley questions
Is Hartley, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hartley scores better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns and quieter than 43%. 26.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Hartley?
The median owner-occupied home in Hartley is valued at $112,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,656, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $779 a month.
What is the weather like in Hartley?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 6.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 41.4 inches of snow.
Does Hartley get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 1, 1971. 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)