The Town FilesKanawha, Iowa
City in Hancock County · population 658 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,600
- Household income
- $68,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 36.4
Kanawha is a city of 658 people in Hancock County, Iowa. The median home is worth $77,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 90% of Iowa towns, better for families than 88% of Iowa towns.
How Kanawha 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 Kanawha is worth $77,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.1 times the median household income of $68,250, which is more affordable than 99% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $575 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Kanawha | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $575 | $820 |
| Median household income | $68,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Kanawha
| People | Kanawha | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Kanawha
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 6.3°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kanawha since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 12, 2013 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 5.50 inches on August 26, 2004.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Hancock County
Hancock County had 5,982 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,900 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Kanawha itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Kanawha
1 public school with 168 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Hancock Middle School | 5-8 | 168 | 12.9 |
Towns near Kanawha
- Belmond, IA11.1 mi · 2,463 people · home $129,100
- Britt, IA11.4 mi · 2,044 people · home $101,900
- Clarion, IA14.3 mi · 2,810 people · home $116,200
- Garner, IA14.9 mi · 3,065 people · home $186,300
- Goldfield, IA15.1 mi · 634 people · home $108,000
- Eagle Grove, IA19.3 mi · 3,601 people · home $104,600
- Ventura, IA21.3 mi · 711 people · home $389,500
- Forest City, IA23.7 mi · 4,285 people · home $143,500
Kanawha questions
Is Kanawha, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Kanawha scores better for retirees than 77% of Iowa towns and quieter than 80%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Kanawha?
The median owner-occupied home in Kanawha is valued at $77,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,250, so homes cost about 1.1 times income. Median rent is $575 a month.
What is the weather like in Kanawha?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 6.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 35.3 inches of snow.
Does Kanawha get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kanawha since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 12, 2013. 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)