The Town FilesNorthwood, Iowa
City in Worth County · population 2,072 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $130,300
- Household income
- $63,450
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 47.9
Northwood is a city of 2,072 people in Worth County, Iowa. The median home is worth $130,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 80% of Iowa towns, better for families than 80% of Iowa towns, quieter than 78% of Iowa towns.
How Northwood 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 Northwood is worth $130,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $63,450, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $706 a month. 82.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northwood | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $706 | $820 |
| Median household income | $63,450 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Northwood
| People | Northwood | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Northwood
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 3.8°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northwood since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1967 about 6.2 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 46 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on October 4, 2006.
Severe weather in Worth County since 1996
Worth County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Worth County
Worth County had 2,302 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,458 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Northwood itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Northwood
2 public schools with 575 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwood-Kensett Elementary | PK-5 | 294 | 16.3 |
| Northwood-Kensett MIddle/High School | 6-12 | 281 | 12.8 |
Towns near Northwood
- Glenville, MN9.6 mi · 568 people · home $123,300
- Manly, IA10.8 mi · 1,256 people · home $120,300
- Albert Lea, MN14.4 mi · 602 people · home $257,900
- Lyle, MN14.4 mi · 522 people · home $111,800
- St. Ansgar, IA15.6 mi · 1,160 people · home $152,500
- Lake Mills, IA15.9 mi · 2,143 people · home $122,600
- Albert Lea, MN16.3 mi · 18,492 people · home $157,500
- Austin, MN16.7 mi · 881 people · home $229,800
Northwood questions
Is Northwood, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northwood scores better for retirees than 80% of Iowa towns and quieter than 78%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.9).
How much does a house cost in Northwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Northwood is valued at $130,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,450, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $706 a month.
What is the weather like in Northwood?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 3.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 40.2 inches of snow.
Does Northwood get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1967. 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)