The Town FilesLamoni, Iowa
City in Decatur County · population 1,969 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $113,400
- Household income
- $54,554
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 25.5
Lamoni is a city of 1,969 people in Decatur County, Iowa. The median home is worth $113,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 99% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns.
How Lamoni 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 Lamoni is worth $113,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $54,554, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $644 a month. 57.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lamoni | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $113,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $644 | $820 |
| Median household income | $54,554 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lamoni
| People | Lamoni | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 12.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Lamoni
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 13.9°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamoni since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 24, 1989 about 2.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 4, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Decatur County since 1996
Decatur County has been included in 14 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 14, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4181: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 31, 2013 | Flood | DR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Decatur County
Decatur County had 2,269 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,983 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Lamoni itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Lamoni
3 public schools with 342 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamoni Elementary School | PK-5 | 196 | 15.1 |
| Lamoni High School | 9-12 | 81 | 13.5 |
| Lamoni Middle School | 6-8 | 65 | 21.7 |
Towns near Lamoni
- Leon, IA12.4 mi · 1,822 people · home $99,800
- Mount Ayr, IA17.4 mi · 1,623 people · home $152,000
- Princeton, MO23.7 mi · 1,007 people · home $78,000
- Bethany, MO24.8 mi · 2,915 people · home $121,700
- Grant City, MO27.0 mi · 817 people · home $68,200
- Murray, IA29.2 mi · 684 people · home $80,800
- Osceola, IA29.7 mi · 5,415 people · home $146,300
Lamoni questions
Is Lamoni, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lamoni scores better for retirees than 98% of Iowa towns and quieter than 12%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.5).
How much does a house cost in Lamoni?
The median owner-occupied home in Lamoni is valued at $113,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,554, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $644 a month.
What is the weather like in Lamoni?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 13.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 26.7 inches of snow.
Does Lamoni get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lamoni since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 24, 1989. 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)