The Town FilesLone Tree, Iowa
City in Johnson County · population 1,357 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,800
- Household income
- $90,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 43.3
Lone Tree is a city of 1,357 people in Johnson County, Iowa. The median home is worth $179,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better transit than 88% of Iowa towns, quieter than 87% of Iowa towns, better for families than 71% of Iowa towns.
How Lone Tree 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 Lone Tree is worth $179,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $90,625, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $963 a month. 83.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lone Tree | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $963 | $820 |
| Median household income | $90,625 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Lone Tree
| People | Lone Tree | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Lone Tree
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lone Tree since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1998 about 3.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 49 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 45 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 14, 1972.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 83,750 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,363 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Lone Tree itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Lone Tree
2 public schools with 438 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Tree Elementary School | PK-5 | 229 | 14.3 |
| Lone Tree Middle-Senior High School | 6-12 | 209 | 11.6 |
Towns near Lone Tree
- Hills, IA7.5 mi · 863 people · home $240,200
- Riverside, IA7.5 mi · 1,060 people · home $183,700
- West Liberty, IA10.4 mi · 3,858 people · home $180,000
- Iowa City, IA12.9 mi · 74,828 people · home $285,900
- West Branch, IA13.2 mi · 2,509 people · home $216,100
- University Heights, IA13.5 mi · 1,228 people · home $429,900
- Kalona, IA14.2 mi · 2,630 people · home $257,900
- Columbus Junction, IA14.7 mi · 1,830 people · home $125,800
Lone Tree questions
Is Lone Tree, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lone Tree scores better for retirees than 43% of Iowa towns and quieter than 87%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Lone Tree?
The median owner-occupied home in Lone Tree is valued at $179,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,625, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $963 a month.
What is the weather like in Lone Tree?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 28.0 inches of snow.
Does Lone Tree get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lone Tree since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 15, 1998. 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)