The Town FilesOdebolt, Iowa
City in Sac County · population 994 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,800
- Household income
- $65,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 49.7
Odebolt is a city of 994 people in Sac County, Iowa. The median home is worth $98,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 77% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 71% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Odebolt 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 Odebolt is worth $98,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $65,417, which is more affordable than 93% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $660 a month. 77.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Odebolt | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $660 | $820 |
| Median household income | $65,417 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Odebolt
| People | Odebolt | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Odebolt
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 7.8°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Odebolt since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 9, 2011 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 29, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 19, 2023.
Severe weather in Sac County since 1996
Sac County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 24, 2014 | Flood | DR-4184: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Sac County
Sac County had 2,969 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,518 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Odebolt itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Odebolt
2 public schools with 322 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Middle School | 6-8 | 201 | 14.4 |
| Odebolt Elementary-Odebolt | K-5 | 121 | 15.1 |
Towns near Odebolt
- Wall Lake, IA8.8 mi · 755 people · home $128,700
- Lake View, IA11.2 mi · 1,113 people · home $175,600
- Ida Grove, IA11.4 mi · 2,051 people · home $94,900
- Early, IA11.6 mi · 587 people · home $90,300
- Schaller, IA12.9 mi · 729 people · home $71,500
- Schleswig, IA13.9 mi · 830 people · home $163,600
- Sac City, IA15.2 mi · 2,063 people · home $136,000
- Breda, IA16.8 mi · 500 people · home $144,600
Odebolt questions
Is Odebolt, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Odebolt scores better for retirees than 68% of Iowa towns and quieter than 50%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.7).
How much does a house cost in Odebolt?
The median owner-occupied home in Odebolt is valued at $98,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,417, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $660 a month.
What is the weather like in Odebolt?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 7.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 34.2 inches of snow.
Does Odebolt get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Odebolt since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 9, 2011. 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)