The Town FilesMelbourne, Iowa
City in Marshall County · population 786 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,400
- Household income
- $71,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 38.8
Melbourne is a city of 786 people in Marshall County, Iowa. The median home is worth $155,400, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 86% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 73% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Melbourne 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 Melbourne is worth $155,400, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $71,667, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $756 a month. 75.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Melbourne | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $756 | $820 |
| Median household income | $71,667 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Melbourne
| People | Melbourne | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Melbourne
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 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 Melbourne since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 16, 1978 about 0.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 10, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 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 Melbourne itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Towns near Melbourne
- State Center, IA6.0 mi · 1,391 people · home $167,400
- Baxter, IA8.4 mi · 962 people · home $166,700
- Marshalltown, IA11.9 mi · 27,591 people · home $127,700
- Colo, IA12.2 mi · 845 people · home $152,000
- Maxwell, IA15.5 mi · 859 people · home $184,600
- Gilman, IA16.7 mi · 542 people · home $88,700
- Newton, IA17.2 mi · 15,760 people · home $153,700
- Le Grand, IA17.4 mi · 905 people · home $145,700
Melbourne questions
Is Melbourne, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Melbourne scores better for retirees than 45% of Iowa towns and quieter than 69%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Melbourne?
The median owner-occupied home in Melbourne is valued at $155,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,667, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $756 a month.
What is the weather like in Melbourne?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does Melbourne get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melbourne since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 16, 1978. 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)