The Town FilesMurray, Iowa
City in Clarke County · population 684 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $80,800
- Household income
- $65,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 31.5
Murray is a city of 684 people in Clarke County, Iowa. The median home is worth $80,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 85% of Iowa towns, better transit than 84% of Iowa towns.
How Murray 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 Murray is worth $80,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $65,500, which is more affordable than 98% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $831 a month. 83.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Murray | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $80,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $831 | $820 |
| Median household income | $65,500 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Murray
| People | Murray | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Murray
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murray since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 29, 1979 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 80 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Clarke County since 1996
Clarke County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4181: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Clarke County
Clarke County had 4,701 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,976 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Murray itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Murray
2 public schools with 317 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murray Elementary School | PK-5 | 163 | 16.3 |
| Murray Jr/Sr High | 6-12 | 154 | 14.0 |
Towns near Murray
- Osceola, IA8.5 mi · 5,415 people · home $146,300
- Truro, IA12.8 mi · 509 people · home $195,100
- Afton, IA12.9 mi · 874 people · home $95,300
- St. Charles, IA18.5 mi · 640 people · home $221,300
- Winterset, IA21.2 mi · 5,353 people · home $192,500
- Creston, IA21.7 mi · 7,536 people · home $114,500
- Leon, IA23.1 mi · 1,822 people · home $99,800
- Mount Ayr, IA27.2 mi · 1,623 people · home $152,000
Murray questions
Is Murray, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Murray scores better for retirees than 15% of Iowa towns and quieter than 85%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.5).
How much does a house cost in Murray?
The median owner-occupied home in Murray is valued at $80,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,500, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $831 a month.
What is the weather like in Murray?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 27.7 inches of snow.
Does Murray get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Murray since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 29, 1979. 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)