The Town FilesMount Pleasant, Iowa
City in Henry County · population 9,274 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,900
- Household income
- $61,042
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 37.5
Mount Pleasant is a city of 9,274 people in Henry County, Iowa. The median home is worth $160,900, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 96% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 94% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Iowa towns.
How Mount Pleasant 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 Mount Pleasant is worth $160,900, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $61,042, which is more affordable than 30% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $826 a month. 63.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Pleasant | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $826 | $820 |
| Median household income | $61,042 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Mount Pleasant
| People | Mount Pleasant | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 14.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Mount Pleasant
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 24.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Pleasant since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 9, 1959 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 21, 1973.
Severe weather in Henry County since 1996
Henry County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Henry County
Henry County had 8,137 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,431 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Mount Pleasant itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Mount Pleasant
6 public schools with 1,703 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant High School | 9-12 | 521 | 12.4 |
| Mount Pleasant Middle School | 6-8 | 409 | 13.6 |
| Van Allen Elementary School | PK-5 | 328 | 12.6 |
| Harlan Elementary School | K-5 | 212 | 14.1 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | K-5 | 211 | 12.4 |
| WisdomQuest Education Center | 10-12 | 22 | — |
Towns near Mount Pleasant
- West Burlington, IA21.7 mi · 3,197 people · home $124,000
- Fairfield, IA22.1 mi · 9,416 people · home $156,000
- Washington, IA24.4 mi · 7,352 people · home $152,300
- Burlington, IA24.6 mi · 23,982 people · home $114,300
- Fort Madison, IA25.8 mi · 10,270 people · home $94,200
Mount Pleasant questions
Is Mount Pleasant, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Pleasant scores better for retirees than 36% of Iowa towns and quieter than 10%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Mount Pleasant?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Pleasant is valued at $160,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,042, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $826 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Pleasant?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 24.8 inches of snow.
Does Mount Pleasant get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Pleasant since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 9, 1959. 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)