The Town FilesLaurens, Iowa
City in Pocahontas County · population 1,264 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $60,300
- Household income
- $48,988
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 47.2
Laurens is a city of 1,264 people in Pocahontas County, Iowa. The median home is worth $60,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 94% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 94% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Laurens 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 Laurens is worth $60,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $48,988, which is more affordable than 98% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $805 a month. 76.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurens | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $60,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $805 | $820 |
| Median household income | $48,988 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Laurens
| People | Laurens | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Laurens
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.2°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurens since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 9, 2011 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 18, 1960.
Severe weather in Pocahontas County since 1996
Pocahontas County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Pocahontas County
Pocahontas County had 2,644 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,766 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Laurens itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Laurens
1 public school with 145 students, about 9.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurens-Marathon Elementary School | PK-6 | 145 | 9.7 |
Towns near Laurens
- Albert City, IA6.9 mi · 677 people · home $96,500
- Pocahontas, IA12.0 mi · 1,867 people · home $106,100
- Sioux Rapids, IA15.5 mi · 748 people · home $88,700
- Rolfe, IA16.2 mi · 509 people · home $48,500
- Newell, IA18.2 mi · 906 people · home $122,600
- Fonda, IA18.4 mi · 636 people · home $58,500
- Ruthven, IA19.7 mi · 725 people · home $105,700
- Emmetsburg, IA20.3 mi · 3,706 people · home $114,300
Laurens questions
Is Laurens, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurens scores better for retirees than 70% of Iowa towns and quieter than 94%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Laurens?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurens is valued at $60,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,988, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $805 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurens?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 8.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 36.9 inches of snow.
Does Laurens get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurens since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 9, 2011. 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)