The Town FilesOlin, Iowa
City in Jones County · population 651 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $108,500
- Household income
- $51,932
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 32.6
Olin is a city of 651 people in Jones County, Iowa. The median home is worth $108,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 93% of Iowa towns.
How Olin 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 Olin is worth $108,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $51,932, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $788 a month. 66.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Olin | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $108,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $788 | $820 |
| Median household income | $51,932 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Olin
| People | Olin | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 38.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Olin
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 39.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olin since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1998 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 22, 2015.
Severe weather in Jones County since 1996
Jones County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Jones County
Jones County had 6,253 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,095 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Olin itself the ACS puts it at 21.4%.
Public schools in Olin
1 public school with 77 students, about 7.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olin Elementary School | PK-6 | 77 | 7.0 |
Towns near Olin
- Stanwood, IA7.2 mi · 637 people · home $145,000
- Wyoming, IA8.2 mi · 523 people · home $105,700
- Mechanicsville, IA8.6 mi · 1,020 people · home $161,400
- Clarence, IA8.8 mi · 1,039 people · home $154,300
- Anamosa, IA10.3 mi · 5,450 people · home $172,600
- Lisbon, IA13.9 mi · 2,233 people · home $219,700
- Lowden, IA14.8 mi · 807 people · home $119,800
- Mount Vernon, IA15.5 mi · 4,527 people · home $245,200
Olin questions
Is Olin, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Olin scores better for retirees than 47% of Iowa towns and quieter than 93%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.6).
How much does a house cost in Olin?
The median owner-occupied home in Olin is valued at $108,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,932, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $788 a month.
What is the weather like in Olin?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.5 inches of snow.
Does Olin get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 15, 1998. 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)