The Town FilesHolstein, Iowa
City in Ida County · population 1,501 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,400
- Household income
- $64,115
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 37.4
Holstein is a city of 1,501 people in Ida County, Iowa. The median home is worth $114,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 91% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 88% of Iowa towns.
How Holstein 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 Holstein is worth $114,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $64,115, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $848 a month. 75.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Holstein | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $848 | $820 |
| Median household income | $64,115 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Holstein
| People | Holstein | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 13.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Holstein
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.6°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holstein since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 7, 1984 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 19, 1996.
Severe weather in Ida County since 1996
Ida County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 24, 2014 | Flood | DR-4184: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ida County
Ida County had 3,584 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,392 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Holstein itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Holstein
2 public schools with 411 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridge View High School | 9-12 | 238 | 14.0 |
| Galva-Holstein Elementary School | PK-3 | 173 | 14.4 |
Towns near Holstein
- Ida Grove, IA10.6 mi · 2,051 people · home $94,900
- Battle Creek, IA12.1 mi · 700 people · home $73,800
- Correctionville, IA12.3 mi · 766 people · home $84,700
- Schaller, IA12.6 mi · 729 people · home $71,500
- Aurelia, IA16.5 mi · 968 people · home $139,900
- Alta, IA17.6 mi · 2,087 people · home $146,600
- Anthon, IA17.8 mi · 545 people · home $101,400
- Cherokee, IA18.1 mi · 5,199 people · home $136,700
Holstein questions
Is Holstein, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Holstein scores better for retirees than 88% of Iowa towns and quieter than 66%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Holstein?
The median owner-occupied home in Holstein is valued at $114,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,115, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $848 a month.
What is the weather like in Holstein?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 35.3 inches of snow.
Does Holstein get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holstein since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 7, 1984. 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)