The Town FilesMontezuma, Iowa
City in Poweshiek County · population 1,442 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,400
- Household income
- $65,660
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 40.0
Montezuma is a city of 1,442 people in Poweshiek County, Iowa. The median home is worth $179,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 72% of Iowa towns, quieter than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Montezuma 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 Montezuma is worth $179,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $65,660, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $858 a month. 59.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montezuma | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $858 | $820 |
| Median household income | $65,660 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 59.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Montezuma
| People | Montezuma | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Montezuma
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 38.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montezuma since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 12, 1956 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 31, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Poweshiek County since 1996
Poweshiek County has been included in 15 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 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Poweshiek County
Poweshiek County had 9,584 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,595 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Montezuma itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Montezuma
3 public schools with 472 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montezuma Elementary School | PK-5 | 229 | 12.1 |
| Montezuma High School | 9-12 | 137 | 12.5 |
| Montezuma Junior High School | 6-8 | 106 | 13.3 |
Towns near Montezuma
- New Sharon, IA10.1 mi · 1,262 people · home $133,600
- Brooklyn, IA11.1 mi · 1,502 people · home $137,100
- Grinnell, IA14.6 mi · 9,564 people · home $209,500
- What Cheer, IA15.4 mi · 607 people · home $49,200
- Victor, IA15.8 mi · 875 people · home $116,600
- Sully, IA16.5 mi · 881 people · home $173,700
- Oskaloosa, IA20.9 mi · 11,558 people · home $153,300
- Kellogg, IA21.7 mi · 606 people · home $115,800
Montezuma questions
Is Montezuma, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montezuma scores better for retirees than 55% of Iowa towns and quieter than 70%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Montezuma?
The median owner-occupied home in Montezuma is valued at $179,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,660, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $858 a month.
What is the weather like in Montezuma?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.2 inches of precipitation a year and 30.0 inches of snow.
Does Montezuma get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montezuma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 12, 1956. 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)