The Town FilesPalo, Iowa
City in Linn County · population 1,407 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $282,400
- Household income
- $106,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 32.7
Palo is a city of 1,407 people in Linn County, Iowa. The median home is worth $282,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 96% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 93% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 78% of Iowa towns.
How Palo 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 Palo is worth $282,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $106,375, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $717 a month. 97.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palo | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $282,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $717 | $820 |
| Median household income | $106,375 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 97.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Palo
| People | Palo | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 7.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 35.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Palo
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palo since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1954 about 3.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 147 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Linn County since 1996
Linn County has been included in 23 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 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Linn County
Linn County had 125,917 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,613 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Palo itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Towns near Palo
- Shellsburg, IA4.2 mi · 961 people · home $175,800
- Hiawatha, IA5.6 mi · 7,183 people · home $216,900
- Atkins, IA5.7 mi · 2,056 people · home $314,900
- Robins, IA6.5 mi · 3,353 people · home $413,400
- Center Point, IA8.3 mi · 2,579 people · home $212,400
- Cedar Rapids, IA9.3 mi · 137,710 people · home $187,100
- Fairfax, IA9.6 mi · 2,828 people · home $274,500
- Newhall, IA9.9 mi · 876 people · home $186,300
Palo questions
Is Palo, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palo scores better for retirees than 40% of Iowa towns and quieter than 61%. 7.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Palo?
The median owner-occupied home in Palo is valued at $282,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $106,375, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $717 a month.
What is the weather like in Palo?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 31.7 inches of snow.
Does Palo get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1954. 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)