The Town FilesRiceville, Iowa
City in Mitchell County · population 806 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $112,100
- Household income
- $44,615
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 36.3
Riceville is a city of 806 people in Mitchell County, Iowa. The median home is worth $112,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 85% of Iowa towns, better for families than 82% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 79% of Iowa towns.
How Riceville 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 Riceville is worth $112,100, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $44,615, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,156 a month. 67.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riceville | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $112,100 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,156 | $820 |
| Median household income | $44,615 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Riceville
| People | Riceville | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 33.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Riceville
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 6.2°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riceville since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 15, 1968 about 7.3 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 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Mitchell County since 1996
Mitchell County has been included in 20 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 |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Mitchell County
Mitchell County had 3,874 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,933 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Riceville itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Riceville
2 public schools with 431 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riceville Elementary School | PK-5 | 226 | 12.6 |
| Riceville High School | 6-12 | 205 | 12.8 |
Towns near Riceville
- Elma, IA9.9 mi · 505 people · home $81,300
- Le Roy, MN10.7 mi · 957 people · home $122,800
- Osage, IA14.1 mi · 3,627 people · home $160,700
- Adams, MN16.4 mi · 683 people · home $170,700
- St. Ansgar, IA18.3 mi · 1,160 people · home $152,500
- Charles City, IA21.4 mi · 7,396 people · home $115,400
- Lyle, MN21.9 mi · 522 people · home $111,800
- Cresco, IA22.0 mi · 3,888 people · home $117,200
Riceville questions
Is Riceville, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riceville scores better for retirees than 79% of Iowa towns and quieter than 66%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Riceville?
The median owner-occupied home in Riceville is valued at $112,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,615, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,156 a month.
What is the weather like in Riceville?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 6.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 40.6 inches of snow.
Does Riceville get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riceville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 15, 1968. 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)