The Town FilesMissouri Valley, Iowa
City in Harrison County · population 2,678 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,500
- Household income
- $71,818
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 38.0
Missouri Valley is a city of 2,678 people in Harrison County, Iowa. The median home is worth $148,500, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 93% of Iowa towns, better transit than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Missouri Valley 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 Missouri Valley is worth $148,500, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $71,818, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $753 a month. 68.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Missouri Valley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $753 | $820 |
| Median household income | $71,818 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Missouri Valley
| People | Missouri Valley | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Missouri Valley
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 34.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Missouri Valley since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 26, 2024 about 9.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 87 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Harrison County since 1996
Harrison County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4870: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Harrison County
Harrison County had 3,990 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,182 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Missouri Valley itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Missouri Valley
3 public schools with 739 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri Valley Elementary | PK-5 | 354 | 12.6 |
| Missouri Valley High School | 9-12 | 236 | 11.2 |
| Missouri Valley Middle School | 6-8 | 149 | 14.9 |
Towns near Missouri Valley
- Blair, NE12.1 mi · 7,790 people · home $221,500
- Carter Lake, IA18.7 mi · 3,791 people · home $169,400
- Omaha, NE21.9 mi · 486,051 people · home $245,500
- Council Bluffs, IA22.4 mi · 62,799 people · home $171,800
- Ralston, NE25.8 mi · 6,494 people · home $230,800
- La Vista, NE27.5 mi · 16,746 people · home $260,900
- Bellevue, NE28.7 mi · 64,176 people · home $247,000
- Chalco, NE28.7 mi · 11,064 people · home $238,600
Missouri Valley questions
Is Missouri Valley, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Missouri Valley scores better for retirees than 57% of Iowa towns and quieter than 25%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Missouri Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Missouri Valley is valued at $148,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,818, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $753 a month.
What is the weather like in Missouri Valley?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.4 inches of precipitation a year and 28.7 inches of snow.
Does Missouri Valley get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Missouri Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 26, 2024. 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)