The Town FilesManson, Iowa
City in Calhoun County · population 1,709 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,900
- Household income
- $66,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 41.3
Manson is a city of 1,709 people in Calhoun County, Iowa. The median home is worth $116,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Iowa towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 85% of Iowa towns.
How Manson 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 Manson is worth $116,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $66,250, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $714 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manson | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $714 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Manson
| People | Manson | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Manson
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.4°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manson since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 28, 1979 about 3.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 27 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 30, 2014.
Severe weather in Calhoun County since 1996
Calhoun County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 Calhoun County
Calhoun County had 2,788 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,076 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Manson itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Manson
1 public school with 353 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manson Northwest Webster Junior High/High School | 7-12 | 353 | 14.7 |
Towns near Manson
- Pomeroy, IA7.2 mi · 526 people · home $70,200
- Rockwell City, IA10.1 mi · 2,240 people · home $88,500
- Pocahontas, IA15.8 mi · 1,867 people · home $106,100
- Fonda, IA16.0 mi · 636 people · home $58,500
- Fort Dodge, IA18.6 mi · 24,871 people · home $144,100
- Rolfe, IA19.7 mi · 509 people · home $48,500
- Lake City, IA20.5 mi · 1,731 people · home $100,900
- Humboldt, IA20.9 mi · 4,792 people · home $173,600
Manson questions
Is Manson, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manson scores better for retirees than 99% of Iowa towns and quieter than 53%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Manson?
The median owner-occupied home in Manson is valued at $116,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,250, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $714 a month.
What is the weather like in Manson?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 34.7 inches of snow.
Does Manson get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 28, 1979. 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)