The Town FilesOssian, Iowa
City in Winneshiek County · population 802 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,600
- Household income
- $71,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.9
Ossian is a city of 802 people in Winneshiek County, Iowa. The median home is worth $157,600, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 100% of Iowa towns, better for families than 91% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns.
How Ossian 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 Ossian is worth $157,600, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $71,875, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $772 a month. 80.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ossian | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $772 | $820 |
| Median household income | $71,875 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.6% | — |
Who lives in Ossian
| People | Ossian | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Ossian
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossian since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 24, 1971 about 6.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 12, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Winneshiek County since 1996
Winneshiek County has been included in 21 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 |
| 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 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Winneshiek County
Winneshiek County had 10,479 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,439 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Ossian itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Ossian
2 public schools with 337 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Winneshiek Elementary School | PK-4 | 207 | 14.8 |
| South Winneshiek Middle School | 5-8 | 130 | 13.0 |
Towns near Ossian
- Calmar, IA5.7 mi · 1,125 people · home $203,200
- Decorah, IA10.7 mi · 7,587 people · home $244,500
- Postville, IA10.8 mi · 2,503 people · home $104,700
- Clermont, IA11.7 mi · 586 people · home $117,200
- West Union, IA13.2 mi · 2,490 people · home $121,000
- Elgin, IA14.8 mi · 685 people · home $98,800
- Waukon, IA16.7 mi · 3,827 people · home $147,200
- Monona, IA20.0 mi · 1,471 people · home $140,800
Ossian questions
Is Ossian, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ossian scores better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns and quieter than 100%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Ossian?
The median owner-occupied home in Ossian is valued at $157,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,875, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $772 a month.
What is the weather like in Ossian?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 39.1 inches of snow.
Does Ossian get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossian since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 24, 1971. 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)