The Town FilesMarengo, Iowa
City in Iowa County · population 2,435 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,200
- Household income
- $57,941
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 39.6
Marengo is a city of 2,435 people in Iowa County, Iowa. The median home is worth $123,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 75% of Iowa towns.
How Marengo 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 Marengo is worth $123,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $57,941, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $700 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marengo | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $700 | $820 |
| Median household income | $57,941 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Marengo
| People | Marengo | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Marengo
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marengo since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 12, 1974 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 16, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Iowa County since 1996
Iowa County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Iowa County
Iowa County had 9,039 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,380 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Marengo itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Marengo
2 public schools with 548 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Valley Elementary School | PK-6 | 324 | 17.1 |
| Iowa Valley Jr-Sr High School | 7-12 | 224 | 11.8 |
Towns near Marengo
- Blairstown, IA7.6 mi · 713 people · home $175,000
- Middle Amana, IA8.6 mi · 543 people · home $267,000
- Williamsburg, IA9.2 mi · 3,346 people · home $204,300
- Victor, IA12.5 mi · 875 people · home $116,600
- Belle Plaine, IA12.7 mi · 2,330 people · home $113,900
- Walford, IA13.5 mi · 1,366 people · home $303,000
- Newhall, IA14.6 mi · 876 people · home $186,300
- Van Horne, IA14.7 mi · 774 people · home $184,500
Marengo questions
Is Marengo, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marengo scores better for retirees than 2% of Iowa towns and quieter than 59%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Marengo?
The median owner-occupied home in Marengo is valued at $123,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,941, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $700 a month.
What is the weather like in Marengo?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does Marengo get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marengo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 12, 1974. 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)