The Town FilesLa Porte City, Iowa
City in Black Hawk County · population 2,284 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,200
- Household income
- $70,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 34.3
La Porte City is a city of 2,284 people in Black Hawk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $163,200, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 82% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Iowa towns, better for families than 70% of Iowa towns.
How La Porte City 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 La Porte City is worth $163,200, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $70,500, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $955 a month. 77.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Porte City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $955 | $820 |
| Median household income | $70,500 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in La Porte City
| People | La Porte City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in La Porte City
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Porte City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 26, 1965 about 1.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 26, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 11, 1970.
Severe weather in Black Hawk County since 1996
Black Hawk County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 Black Hawk County
Black Hawk County had 70,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,631 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in La Porte City itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in La Porte City
2 public schools with 579 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union High School | 9-12 | 315 | 12.1 |
| La Porte City Elementary School | PK-5 | 264 | 12.6 |
Towns near La Porte City
- Gilbertville, IA7.3 mi · 794 people · home $197,400
- Washburn, IA7.7 mi · 870 people · home $142,300
- Raymond, IA10.9 mi · 759 people · home $222,600
- Elk Run Heights, IA11.2 mi · 1,069 people · home $171,200
- Evansdale, IA11.2 mi · 4,561 people · home $150,300
- Dysart, IA11.5 mi · 1,281 people · home $158,300
- Jesup, IA12.8 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
- Vinton, IA13.4 mi · 4,938 people · home $152,300
La Porte City questions
Is La Porte City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Porte City scores better for retirees than 34% of Iowa towns and quieter than 38%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in La Porte City?
The median owner-occupied home in La Porte City is valued at $163,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,500, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $955 a month.
What is the weather like in La Porte City?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 34.8 inches of snow.
Does La Porte City get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Porte City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 26, 1965. 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)