The Town FilesNashua, Iowa
City in Chickasaw County · population 1,551 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $129,600
- Household income
- $66,597
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 38.4
Nashua is a city of 1,551 people in Chickasaw County, Iowa. The median home is worth $129,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 88% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 72% of Iowa towns.
How Nashua 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 Nashua is worth $129,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $66,597, which is more affordable than 76% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $756 a month. 80.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nashua | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $129,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $756 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,597 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Nashua
| People | Nashua | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Nashua
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 8.6°F. About 37.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nashua since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 1, 1961 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Chickasaw County since 1996
Chickasaw County has been included in 19 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chickasaw County
Chickasaw County had 5,115 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,425 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Nashua itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Nashua
2 public schools with 593 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua-Plainfield Junior-Senior High School | 6-12 | 308 | 12.8 |
| Nashua-Plainfield Elementary School | PK-5 | 285 | 15.0 |
Towns near Nashua
- Charles City, IA10.3 mi · 7,396 people · home $115,400
- Clarksville, IA13.4 mi · 1,264 people · home $125,900
- New Hampton, IA13.6 mi · 3,494 people · home $167,700
- Greene, IA13.7 mi · 990 people · home $120,700
- Waverly, IA16.2 mi · 10,394 people · home $223,300
- Shell Rock, IA16.6 mi · 1,268 people · home $163,100
- Tripoli, IA17.4 mi · 1,191 people · home $120,500
- Fredericksburg, IA17.5 mi · 987 people · home $201,300
Nashua questions
Is Nashua, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nashua scores better for retirees than 16% of Iowa towns and quieter than 39%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Nashua?
The median owner-occupied home in Nashua is valued at $129,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,597, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $756 a month.
What is the weather like in Nashua?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 8.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.7 inches of precipitation a year and 35.7 inches of snow.
Does Nashua get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nashua since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 1, 1961. 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)