The Town FilesLarchwood, Iowa
City in Lyon County · population 926 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,600
- Household income
- $67,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 30.3
Larchwood is a city of 926 people in Lyon County, Iowa. The median home is worth $215,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 99% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 87% of Iowa towns.
How Larchwood 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 Larchwood is worth $215,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $67,188, which is more affordable than 8% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $867 a month. 74.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Larchwood | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $867 | $820 |
| Median household income | $67,188 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Larchwood
| People | Larchwood | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 29.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Larchwood
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 27.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Larchwood since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 7, 1993 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 28, 2021.
Severe weather in Lyon County since 1996
Lyon County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lyon County
Lyon County had 4,794 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,696 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Larchwood itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Towns near Larchwood
- Hills, MN6.4 mi · 686 people · home $197,200
- Valley Springs, SD8.9 mi · 885 people · home $192,600
- Shindler, SD10.0 mi · 607 people · home $617,600
- Inwood, IA10.0 mi · 928 people · home $202,900
- Brandon, SD12.1 mi · 11,048 people · home $336,600
- Canton, SD12.9 mi · 3,066 people · home $191,400
- Rock Rapids, IA13.7 mi · 2,611 people · home $206,700
- Harrisburg, SD13.9 mi · 6,732 people · home $312,200
Larchwood questions
Is Larchwood, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Larchwood scores better for retirees than 30% of Iowa towns and quieter than 55%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.3).
How much does a house cost in Larchwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Larchwood is valued at $215,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,188, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $867 a month.
What is the weather like in Larchwood?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.8 inches of precipitation a year and 41.0 inches of snow.
Does Larchwood get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Larchwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 7, 1993. 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)