The Town FilesMontrose, Iowa
City in Lee County · population 738 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,500
- Household income
- $66,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 42.6
Montrose is a city of 738 people in Lee County, Iowa. The median home is worth $103,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Iowa towns, quieter than 88% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 75% of Iowa towns.
How Montrose 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 Montrose is worth $103,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $66,250, which is more affordable than 91% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $625 a month. 90.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montrose | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $625 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 90.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Montrose
| People | Montrose | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Montrose
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 16.9°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 110 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montrose since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 64 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 17, 1992.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| 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 |
| September 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4392: Severe Storm And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 13,719 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,333 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Montrose itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Montrose
- Nauvoo, IL2.3 mi · 950 people · home $156,700
- Fort Madison, IA7.6 mi · 10,270 people · home $94,200
- Keokuk, IA8.0 mi · 9,900 people · home $104,300
- Hamilton, IL9.7 mi · 2,753 people · home $114,100
- Donnellson, IA11.3 mi · 885 people · home $147,800
- Warsaw, IL12.1 mi · 1,510 people · home $96,100
- West Point, IA13.2 mi · 921 people · home $178,700
- Dallas City, IL15.3 mi · 805 people · home $90,000
Montrose questions
Is Montrose, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montrose scores better for retirees than 24% of Iowa towns and quieter than 88%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Montrose?
The median owner-occupied home in Montrose is valued at $103,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,250, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $625 a month.
What is the weather like in Montrose?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 16.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 18.1 inches of snow.
Does Montrose get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montrose since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1999. 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)