The Town FilesMoulton, Iowa
City in Appanoose County · population 607 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $81,800
- Household income
- $66,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 33.2
Moulton is a city of 607 people in Appanoose County, Iowa. The median home is worth $81,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of Iowa towns.
How Moulton 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 Moulton is worth $81,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $66,250, which is more affordable than 98% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $644 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Moulton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $81,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $644 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Moulton
| People | Moulton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Moulton
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moulton since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 6, 2017 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 6, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 23, 1961.
Severe weather in Appanoose County since 1996
Appanoose County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| July 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Appanoose County
Appanoose County had 4,614 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,114 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Moulton itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Moulton
2 public schools with 184 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moulton Elementary School | PK-6 | 106 | 10.6 |
| Moulton-Udell High School | 7-12 | 78 | 13.0 |
Towns near Moulton
- Centerville, IA10.7 mi · 5,412 people · home $103,000
- Lancaster, MO13.4 mi · 675 people · home $154,800
- Bloomfield, IA14.3 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
- Moravia, IA16.1 mi · 637 people · home $121,700
- Queen City, MO19.8 mi · 562 people · home $66,900
- Unionville, MO22.5 mi · 1,735 people · home $105,400
- Seymour, IA23.3 mi · 634 people · home $86,800
- Albia, IA24.5 mi · 3,721 people · home $130,300
Moulton questions
Is Moulton, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Moulton scores better for retirees than 38% of Iowa towns and quieter than 43%. 9.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Moulton?
The median owner-occupied home in Moulton is valued at $81,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,250, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $644 a month.
What is the weather like in Moulton?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.3 inches of snow.
Does Moulton get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moulton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 6, 2017. 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)