The Town FilesNorth Liberty, Iowa
City in Johnson County · population 20,479 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $303,800
- Household income
- $102,102
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 31.7
North Liberty is a city of 20,479 people in Johnson County, Iowa. The median home is worth $303,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 99% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 88% of Iowa towns.
How North Liberty 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 North Liberty is worth $303,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $102,102, which is more affordable than 14% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,246 a month. 66.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Liberty | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $303,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,246 | $820 |
| Median household income | $102,102 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North Liberty
| People | North Liberty | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.3% | — |
| Work from home | 16.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in North Liberty
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 35.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Liberty since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 31, 2023 about 1.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 32 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 104 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 18, 1998.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| 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 Johnson County
Johnson County had 83,750 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,363 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in North Liberty itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in North Liberty
7 public schools with 4,229 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty High School | 9-12 | 1,228 | 16.8 |
| North Central Junior High School | 7-8 | 643 | 16.9 |
| Penn Elementary School | PK-6 | 560 | 17.0 |
| Christine Grant Elementary | PK-6 | 521 | 15.8 |
| Buford Garner Elementary | PK-6 | 449 | 14.5 |
| James Van Allen Elementary School | PK-6 | 427 | 14.7 |
| North Bend Elementary | PK-3 | 401 | 16.7 |
Towns near North Liberty
- Coralville, IA3.2 mi · 22,318 people · home $298,500
- Tiffin, IA3.4 mi · 4,512 people · home $338,500
- Solon, IA7.3 mi · 3,018 people · home $309,400
- Iowa City, IA7.4 mi · 74,828 people · home $285,900
- West Branch, IA14.8 mi · 2,509 people · home $216,100
- Fairfax, IA15.2 mi · 2,828 people · home $274,500
- Cedar Rapids, IA15.6 mi · 137,710 people · home $187,100
- Mount Vernon, IA15.7 mi · 4,527 people · home $245,200
North Liberty questions
Is North Liberty, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Liberty scores better for retirees than 22% of Iowa towns and quieter than 7%. 7.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.7).
How much does a house cost in North Liberty?
The median owner-occupied home in North Liberty is valued at $303,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,102, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,246 a month.
What is the weather like in North Liberty?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.7 inches of precipitation a year and 29.2 inches of snow.
Does North Liberty get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North Liberty since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 31, 2023. 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)