The Town FilesMason City, Iowa
City in Cerro Gordo County · population 27,338 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,000
- Household income
- $64,804
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 42.5
Mason City is a city of 27,338 people in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. The median home is worth $142,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Iowa towns, better transit than 94% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 91% of Iowa towns.
How Mason City 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 Mason City is worth $142,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $64,804, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $882 a month. 65.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mason City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $882 | $820 |
| Median household income | $64,804 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Mason City
| People | Mason City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 13.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Mason City
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 7.0°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mason City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 30, 1967 about 5.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 18, 1974.
Severe weather in Cerro Gordo County since 1996
Cerro Gordo County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 27, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cerro Gordo County
Cerro Gordo County had 23,531 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,949 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Mason City itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Mason City
8 public schools with 3,385 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City High School | 9-12 | 967 | 18.2 |
| Lincoln Intermediate | 5-6 | 488 | 13.6 |
| John Adams Middle School | 7-8 | 463 | 13.2 |
| Roosevelt Elementary School | PK-4 | 365 | 12.2 |
| Harding Elementary School | PK-4 | 357 | 13.2 |
| Hoover Elementary School | PK-4 | 346 | 12.8 |
| Jefferson Elementary School | PK-4 | 307 | 12.3 |
| Alternative School | 9-12 | 92 | 18.4 |
Towns near Mason City
- Clear Lake, IA8.8 mi · 7,687 people · home $259,500
- Garner, IA20.6 mi · 3,065 people · home $186,300
- Osage, IA21.7 mi · 3,627 people · home $160,700
- Forest City, IA23.2 mi · 4,285 people · home $143,500
- Charles City, IA27.1 mi · 7,396 people · home $115,400
- Hampton, IA28.0 mi · 4,337 people · home $99,400
Mason City questions
Is Mason City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mason City scores better for retirees than 14% of Iowa towns and quieter than 16%. 23.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Mason City?
The median owner-occupied home in Mason City is valued at $142,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,804, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $882 a month.
What is the weather like in Mason City?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 7.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 44.4 inches of snow.
Does Mason City get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mason City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 30, 1967. 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)