The Town FilesNew London, Iowa
City in Henry County · population 1,910 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,600
- Household income
- $77,560
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 35.5
New London is a city of 1,910 people in Henry County, Iowa. The median home is worth $139,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 84% of Iowa towns.
How New London 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 New London is worth $139,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $77,560, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $849 a month. 83.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | New London | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $849 | $820 |
| Median household income | $77,560 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in New London
| People | New London | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in New London
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
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New London since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 25, 1965 about 6.4 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 47 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 New London itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Public schools in New London
2 public schools with 600 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark Elementary School | PK-5 | 310 | 13.5 |
| New London Jr-Sr High School | 6-12 | 290 | 12.6 |
Towns near New London
- Danville, IA6.3 mi · 927 people · home $158,500
- Mount Pleasant, IA8.1 mi · 9,274 people · home $160,900
- Beaverdale, IA11.6 mi · 880 people · home $170,900
- Mediapolis, IA13.7 mi · 1,688 people · home $179,700
- West Burlington, IA13.7 mi · 3,197 people · home $124,000
- Winfield, IA14.2 mi · 1,033 people · home $100,000
- Morning Sun, IA14.2 mi · 752 people · home $102,200
- West Point, IA14.7 mi · 921 people · home $178,700
New London questions
Is New London, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New London scores better for retirees than 59% of Iowa towns and quieter than 40%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in New London?
The median owner-occupied home in New London is valued at $139,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,560, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $849 a month.
What is the weather like in New London?
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 New London get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New London since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 25, 1965. 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)