The Town FilesReadlyn, Iowa
City in Bremer County · population 845 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,400
- Household income
- $86,103
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 37.8
Readlyn is a city of 845 people in Bremer County, Iowa. The median home is worth $168,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 100% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 95% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 80% of Iowa towns.
How Readlyn 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 Readlyn is worth $168,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $86,103, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $588 a month. 81.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Readlyn | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $588 | $820 |
| Median household income | $86,103 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Readlyn
| People | Readlyn | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Readlyn
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 7.3°F. About 38.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Readlyn since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 11, 2000 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 47 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 14, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Bremer County since 1996
Bremer County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bremer County
Bremer County had 9,685 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,555 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Readlyn itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Readlyn
1 public school with 118 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Readlyn Elementary School | PK-6 | 118 | 13.1 |
Towns near Readlyn
- Denver, IA6.1 mi · 1,919 people · home $229,200
- Tripoli, IA7.4 mi · 1,191 people · home $120,500
- Dunkerton, IA9.9 mi · 842 people · home $189,700
- Fairbank, IA10.0 mi · 1,111 people · home $186,900
- Sumner, IA12.0 mi · 2,030 people · home $118,000
- Waverly, IA12.5 mi · 10,394 people · home $223,300
- Janesville, IA12.7 mi · 1,034 people · home $221,700
- Waterloo, IA16.0 mi · 67,314 people · home $152,600
Readlyn questions
Is Readlyn, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Readlyn scores better for retirees than 21% of Iowa towns and quieter than 41%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Readlyn?
The median owner-occupied home in Readlyn is valued at $168,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,103, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $588 a month.
What is the weather like in Readlyn?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 7.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.6 inches of precipitation a year and 38.5 inches of snow.
Does Readlyn get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Readlyn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 11, 2000. 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)