The Town FilesNew Sharon, Iowa
City in Mahaska County · population 1,262 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,600
- Household income
- $48,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 40.9
New Sharon is a city of 1,262 people in Mahaska County, Iowa. The median home is worth $133,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 82% of Iowa towns, quieter than 79% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 78% of Iowa towns.
How New Sharon 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 Sharon is worth $133,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $48,750, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $668 a month. 75.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Sharon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $668 | $820 |
| Median household income | $48,750 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in New Sharon
| People | New Sharon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in New Sharon
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Sharon since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 12, 1956 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 28, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Mahaska County since 1996
Mahaska County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Mahaska County
Mahaska County had 7,887 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,503 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in New Sharon itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in New Sharon
2 public schools with 600 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Mahaska Elementary School | PK-6 | 314 | 14.3 |
| North Mahaska Jr-Sr High School | 7-12 | 286 | 14.3 |
Towns near New Sharon
- Montezuma, IA10.1 mi · 1,442 people · home $179,400
- Oskaloosa, IA12.3 mi · 11,558 people · home $153,300
- Sully, IA12.6 mi · 881 people · home $173,700
- Pella, IA14.5 mi · 10,464 people · home $292,700
- What Cheer, IA16.0 mi · 607 people · home $49,200
- Grinnell, IA18.7 mi · 9,564 people · home $209,500
- Brooklyn, IA21.0 mi · 1,502 people · home $137,100
- Fremont, IA21.1 mi · 708 people · home $104,900
New Sharon questions
Is New Sharon, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Sharon scores better for retirees than 78% of Iowa towns and quieter than 79%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in New Sharon?
The median owner-occupied home in New Sharon is valued at $133,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,750, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $668 a month.
What is the weather like in New Sharon?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 30.2 inches of snow.
Does New Sharon get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Sharon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 12, 1956. 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)