The Town FilesLeon, Iowa
City in Decatur County · population 1,822 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,800
- Household income
- $54,231
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 38.6
Leon is a city of 1,822 people in Decatur County, Iowa. The median home is worth $99,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 89% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Leon 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 Leon is worth $99,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $54,231, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $577 a month. 51.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Leon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $577 | $820 |
| Median household income | $54,231 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 51.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Leon
| People | Leon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Leon
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 12.6°F. About 39.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leon since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 24, 1989 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 3, 2001.
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 Leon itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Leon
3 public schools with 668 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Decatur MS/HS High School | 7-12 | 321 | 16.9 |
| North Elementary School | 3-6 | 176 | 13.5 |
| South Elementary School | PK-2 | 171 | 10.7 |
Towns near Leon
- Lamoni, IA12.4 mi · 1,969 people · home $113,400
- Osceola, IA20.4 mi · 5,415 people · home $146,300
- Corydon, IA23.0 mi · 1,526 people · home $92,400
- Murray, IA23.1 mi · 684 people · home $80,800
- Mount Ayr, IA25.3 mi · 1,623 people · home $152,000
- Princeton, MO25.4 mi · 1,007 people · home $78,000
Leon questions
Is Leon, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Leon scores better for retirees than 89% of Iowa towns and quieter than 16%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Leon?
The median owner-occupied home in Leon is valued at $99,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,231, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $577 a month.
What is the weather like in Leon?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 12.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 28.5 inches of snow.
Does Leon get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Leon 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)