The Town FilesNewell, Iowa
City in Buena Vista County · population 906 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,600
- Household income
- $66,667
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 36.1
Newell is a city of 906 people in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The median home is worth $122,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 87% of Iowa towns, better for families than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Newell 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 Newell is worth $122,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $66,667, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 72.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newell | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $825 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,667 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Newell
| People | Newell | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 35.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Newell
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newell since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1995 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 7, 1990.
Severe weather in Buena Vista County since 1996
Buena Vista County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Buena Vista County
Buena Vista County had 10,683 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,893 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Newell itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Newell
3 public schools with 556 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newell-Fonda Elementary | PK-5 | 287 | 16.9 |
| Newell-Fonda High School | 9-12 | 139 | 12.6 |
| Newell-Fonda Middle Sch. | 6-8 | 130 | 21.7 |
Towns near Newell
- Fonda, IA8.3 mi · 636 people · home $58,500
- Lakeside, IA8.8 mi · 700 people · home $246,400
- Storm Lake, IA10.1 mi · 11,269 people · home $172,200
- Albert City, IA12.2 mi · 677 people · home $96,500
- Early, IA12.7 mi · 587 people · home $90,300
- Sac City, IA13.0 mi · 2,063 people · home $136,000
- Alta, IA15.9 mi · 2,087 people · home $146,600
- Schaller, IA16.8 mi · 729 people · home $71,500
Newell questions
Is Newell, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newell scores better for retirees than 58% of Iowa towns and quieter than 54%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.1).
How much does a house cost in Newell?
The median owner-occupied home in Newell is valued at $122,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,667, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Newell?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 34.2 inches of snow.
Does Newell get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1995. 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)