The Town FilesMalvern, Iowa
City in Mills County · population 1,046 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,700
- Household income
- $84,223
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 42.4
Malvern is a city of 1,046 people in Mills County, Iowa. The median home is worth $174,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Iowa towns, quieter than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Malvern 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 Malvern is worth $174,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $84,223, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 83.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Malvern | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $839 | $820 |
| Median household income | $84,223 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Malvern
| People | Malvern | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Malvern
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 19.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Malvern since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 14, 2012 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 26, 1984.
Severe weather in Mills County since 1996
Mills County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms 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 Mills County
Mills County had 3,361 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,050 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Malvern itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Malvern
1 public school with 204 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Mills Jr/Sr High School | 7-12 | 204 | 12.0 |
Towns near Malvern
- Glenwood, IA8.6 mi · 5,073 people · home $206,200
- Tabor, IA8.8 mi · 1,014 people · home $204,200
- Treynor, IA15.8 mi · 1,032 people · home $263,500
- Plattsmouth, NE16.1 mi · 6,544 people · home $183,600
- Sidney, IA18.1 mi · 1,070 people · home $125,300
- Carson, IA18.2 mi · 766 people · home $181,400
- Essex, IA18.7 mi · 722 people · home $89,900
- Red Oak, IA18.8 mi · 5,596 people · home $99,700
Malvern questions
Is Malvern, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Malvern scores better for retirees than 63% of Iowa towns and quieter than 82%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Malvern?
The median owner-occupied home in Malvern is valued at $174,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,223, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.
What is the weather like in Malvern?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 19.6 inches of snow.
Does Malvern get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Malvern since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 14, 2012. 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)