The Town FilesLenox, Iowa
City in Taylor County · population 1,339 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $111,400
- Household income
- $61,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 37.5
Lenox is a city of 1,339 people in Taylor County, Iowa. The median home is worth $111,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better transit than 90% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 78% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Lenox 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 Lenox is worth $111,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $61,000, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,003 a month. 76.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lenox | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,003 | $820 |
| Median household income | $61,000 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Lenox
| People | Lenox | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Lenox
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lenox since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 24, 1989 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 5, 1971.
Severe weather in Taylor County since 1996
Taylor County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4181: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| May 27, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Taylor County
Taylor County had 2,030 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,564 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Lenox itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Lenox
2 public schools with 528 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenox Elementary School | PK-6 | 311 | 13.5 |
| Lenox High School | 7-12 | 217 | 15.5 |
Towns near Lenox
- Corning, IA12.1 mi · 1,564 people · home $96,400
- Creston, IA15.9 mi · 7,536 people · home $114,500
- Bedford, IA17.0 mi · 1,508 people · home $96,800
- Mount Ayr, IA20.4 mi · 1,623 people · home $152,000
- Afton, IA21.4 mi · 874 people · home $95,300
- Villisca, IA22.3 mi · 1,132 people · home $77,000
- Clarinda, IA26.8 mi · 5,369 people · home $114,200
- Fontanelle, IA28.1 mi · 676 people · home $103,000
Lenox questions
Is Lenox, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lenox scores better for retirees than 62% of Iowa towns and quieter than 52%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Lenox?
The median owner-occupied home in Lenox is valued at $111,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,000, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $1,003 a month.
What is the weather like in Lenox?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 23.8 inches of snow.
Does Lenox get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lenox 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)