The Town FilesJewell Junction, Iowa
City in Hamilton County · population 1,216 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,100
- Household income
- $81,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 42.9
Jewell Junction is a city of 1,216 people in Hamilton County, Iowa. The median home is worth $148,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 88% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 87% of Iowa towns, hipper than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Jewell Junction 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 Jewell Junction is worth $148,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $81,250, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $906 a month. 83.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jewell Junction | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,100 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $906 | $820 |
| Median household income | $81,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jewell Junction
| People | Jewell Junction | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Jewell Junction
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 6.9°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jewell Junction since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 13, 1976 about 9.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 30, 2014.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 21 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 |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 5,798 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,922 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Jewell Junction itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Jewell Junction
2 public schools with 670 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Hamilton Elem | PK-6 | 355 | 14.8 |
| South Hamilton Middle And High School | 7-12 | 315 | 13.7 |
Towns near Jewell Junction
- Ellsworth, IA2.9 mi · 508 people · home $149,000
- Story City, IA9.1 mi · 3,352 people · home $215,600
- Radcliffe, IA10.5 mi · 555 people · home $118,300
- Roland, IA12.2 mi · 1,362 people · home $185,900
- Webster City, IA13.9 mi · 7,825 people · home $127,200
- Gilbert, IA14.2 mi · 1,211 people · home $274,600
- Stratford, IA15.0 mi · 707 people · home $89,300
- Hubbard, IA17.2 mi · 860 people · home $106,100
Jewell Junction questions
Is Jewell Junction, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jewell Junction scores better for retirees than 55% of Iowa towns and quieter than 60%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Jewell Junction?
The median owner-occupied home in Jewell Junction is valued at $148,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,250, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $906 a month.
What is the weather like in Jewell Junction?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 6.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 32.2 inches of snow.
Does Jewell Junction get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jewell Junction since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 13, 1976. 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)