The Town FilesKalona, Iowa
City in Washington County · population 2,630 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,900
- Household income
- $80,129
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 41.4
Kalona is a city of 2,630 people in Washington County, Iowa. The median home is worth $257,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns, better transit than 81% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 78% of Iowa towns.
How Kalona 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 Kalona is worth $257,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $80,129, which is more affordable than 8% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $853 a month. 65.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kalona | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $853 | $820 |
| Median household income | $80,129 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Kalona
| People | Kalona | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Kalona
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 35.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kalona since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 7, 1984 about 10.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 2, 2026.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 8,558 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,539 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Kalona itself the ACS puts it at 0.4%.
Public schools in Kalona
2 public schools with 690 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-Prairie Middle School | 5-8 | 410 | 15.2 |
| Mid-Prairie East Elementary School | K-2 | 280 | 13.3 |
Towns near Kalona
- Washington, IA13.1 mi · 7,352 people · home $152,300
- Iowa City, IA14.6 mi · 74,828 people · home $285,900
- Tiffin, IA15.3 mi · 4,512 people · home $338,500
- Coralville, IA15.6 mi · 22,318 people · home $298,500
- North Liberty, IA18.3 mi · 20,479 people · home $303,800
- Williamsburg, IA20.4 mi · 3,346 people · home $204,300
- West Branch, IA22.2 mi · 2,509 people · home $216,100
- West Liberty, IA23.5 mi · 3,858 people · home $180,000
Kalona questions
Is Kalona, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kalona scores better for retirees than 74% of Iowa towns and quieter than 55%. 25.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Kalona?
The median owner-occupied home in Kalona is valued at $257,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,129, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $853 a month.
What is the weather like in Kalona?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.7 inches of precipitation a year and 27.7 inches of snow.
Does Kalona get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kalona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)