The Town FilesPostville, Iowa
City in Allamakee County · population 2,503 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $104,700
- Household income
- $49,485
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 23.2
Postville is a city of 2,503 people in Allamakee County, Iowa. The median home is worth $104,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 93% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Postville 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 Postville is worth $104,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $49,485, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $861 a month. 51.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Postville | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $861 | $820 |
| Median household income | $49,485 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 51.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Postville
| People | Postville | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 39.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 1.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 32.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Postville
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 38.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Postville since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 29, 1987 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on July 24, 2009.
Severe weather in Allamakee County since 1996
Allamakee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| 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 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Allamakee County
Allamakee County had 4,837 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,815 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Postville itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Postville
4 public schools with 739 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| John R Mott Jr/Hi School | 7-12 | 365 | 13.0 |
| Cora B Darling Elementary | PK-6 | 350 | 11.7 |
| Postville Early Childhood/Ogden St | PK-PK | 13 | — |
| Postville Early Childhood Preschool/Post St/REC Center | PK-PK | 11 | 11.0 |
Towns near Postville
- Waukon, IA13.5 mi · 3,827 people · home $147,200
- Decorah, IA18.6 mi · 7,587 people · home $244,500
- Prairie du Chien, WI22.0 mi · 5,506 people · home $161,300
Postville questions
Is Postville, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Postville scores better for retirees than 7% of Iowa towns and quieter than 20%. 10.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 23.2).
How much does a house cost in Postville?
The median owner-occupied home in Postville is valued at $104,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,485, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $861 a month.
What is the weather like in Postville?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 39.8 inches of snow.
Does Postville get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Postville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 29, 1987. 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)