The Town FilesIndianola, Iowa
City in Warren County · population 15,833 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $237,500
- Household income
- $75,453
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 35.9
Indianola is a city of 15,833 people in Warren County, Iowa. The median home is worth $237,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 95% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 92% of Iowa towns.
How Indianola 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 Indianola is worth $237,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $75,453, which is more affordable than 10% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $986 a month. 69.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Indianola | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $237,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $986 | $820 |
| Median household income | $75,453 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Indianola
| People | Indianola | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Indianola
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 37.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Indianola since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on August 20, 2019 about 7.6 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 109 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 Indianola itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Indianola
6 public schools with 3,634 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianola High School | 9-12 | 1,139 | 17.8 |
| Indianola Middle School | 6-8 | 820 | 15.2 |
| Wilder Elementary School | K-5 | 471 | 12.7 |
| Emerson Elementary School | K-5 | 415 | 13.4 |
| Whittier Elementary School | PK-5 | 397 | 18.0 |
| Irving Elementary School | K-5 | 392 | 15.7 |
Towns near Indianola
- Norwalk, IA10.7 mi · 12,799 people · home $303,100
- Carlisle, IA11.5 mi · 4,160 people · home $234,300
- Des Moines, IA14.7 mi · 214,133 people · home $194,700
- Pleasant Hill, IA16.6 mi · 10,147 people · home $295,100
- West Des Moines, IA17.1 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
- Windsor Heights, IA18.3 mi · 5,252 people · home $267,900
- Altoona, IA20.4 mi · 19,565 people · home $274,600
- Clive, IA21.1 mi · 18,601 people · home $401,100
Indianola questions
Is Indianola, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Indianola scores better for retirees than 14% of Iowa towns and quieter than 5%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Indianola?
The median owner-occupied home in Indianola is valued at $237,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,453, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $986 a month.
What is the weather like in Indianola?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.8 inches of precipitation a year and 30.8 inches of snow.
Does Indianola get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Indianola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on August 20, 2019. 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)