The Town FilesMarshalltown, Iowa
City in Marshall County · population 27,591 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $127,700
- Household income
- $69,068
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 35.7
Marshalltown is a city of 27,591 people in Marshall County, Iowa. The median home is worth $127,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 92% of Iowa towns.
How Marshalltown 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 Marshalltown is worth $127,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $69,068, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $891 a month. 68.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marshalltown | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $891 | $820 |
| Median household income | $69,068 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Marshalltown
| People | Marshalltown | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Marshalltown
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 9.0°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marshalltown since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 19, 2018 about 1.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 42 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 10, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 18, 2003.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 Marshall County
Marshall County had 16,042 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,625 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Marshalltown itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Public schools in Marshalltown
9 public schools with 5,000 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshalltown High School | 9-12 | 1,613 | 16.0 |
| B R Miller Middle School | 7-8 | 734 | 14.1 |
| Lenihan Intermediate School | 5-6 | 667 | 13.3 |
| Woodbury Elementary School | PK-4 | 382 | 14.7 |
| Fisher Elementary School | PK-4 | 375 | 13.4 |
| Franklin Elementary Sch | PK-4 | 361 | 12.0 |
| J C Hoglan Elementary School | PK-4 | 335 | 14.0 |
| Anson Elementary School | PK-4 | 288 | 12.0 |
| Rogers Elementary School | PK-4 | 245 | 11.7 |
Towns near Marshalltown
- Tama, IA17.7 mi · 3,130 people · home $106,800
- Grinnell, IA22.7 mi · 9,564 people · home $209,500
- Grundy Center, IA23.7 mi · 2,796 people · home $177,900
- Newton, IA24.4 mi · 15,760 people · home $153,700
- Eldora, IA24.7 mi · 2,663 people · home $133,000
- Nevada, IA28.9 mi · 6,925 people · home $182,400
Marshalltown questions
Is Marshalltown, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marshalltown scores better for retirees than 4% of Iowa towns and quieter than 7%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Marshalltown?
The median owner-occupied home in Marshalltown is valued at $127,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,068, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $891 a month.
What is the weather like in Marshalltown?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 9.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 25.3 inches of snow.
Does Marshalltown get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marshalltown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 19, 2018. 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)