The Town FilesRed Oak, Iowa
City in Montgomery County · population 5,596 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $99,700
- Household income
- $50,109
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 40.2
Red Oak is a city of 5,596 people in Montgomery County, Iowa. The median home is worth $99,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 91% of Iowa towns, hipper than 88% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 86% of Iowa towns.
How Red Oak 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 Red Oak is worth $99,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $50,109, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $812 a month. 59.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Red Oak | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $99,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $812 | $820 |
| Median household income | $50,109 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 59.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Red Oak
| People | Red Oak | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Red Oak
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Oak since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 5, 2007 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 19, 2020.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And 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 |
| July 14, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4181: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 4,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,354 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Red Oak itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Red Oak
3 public schools with 1,013 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inman Elementary School | K-6 | 517 | 14.8 |
| Red Oak Junior/Senior High School | 7-12 | 446 | 15.4 |
| Red Oak Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 50 | 16.7 |
Towns near Red Oak
- Shenandoah, IA19.3 mi · 4,925 people · home $116,700
- Clarinda, IA21.5 mi · 5,369 people · home $114,200
- Glenwood, IA27.0 mi · 5,073 people · home $206,200
- Atlantic, IA28.2 mi · 6,792 people · home $149,900
Red Oak questions
Is Red Oak, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Red Oak scores better for retirees than 14% of Iowa towns and quieter than 26%. 18.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Red Oak?
The median owner-occupied home in Red Oak is valued at $99,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,109, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $812 a month.
What is the weather like in Red Oak?
July highs average 86.3°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 27.4 inches of snow.
Does Red Oak get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Red Oak since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 5, 2007. 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)