The Town FilesRichland, Iowa
City in Keokuk County · population 542 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $135,700
- Household income
- $60,446
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 29.1
Richland is a city of 542 people in Keokuk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $135,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 82% of Iowa towns, quieter than 80% of Iowa towns, better transit than 72% of Iowa towns.
How Richland 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 Richland is worth $135,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $60,446, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. 86.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Richland | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | — | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,446 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 86.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Richland
| People | Richland | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 34.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 30.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Richland
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richland since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 31, 2023 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Keokuk County since 1996
Keokuk County has been included in 19 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 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Keokuk County
Keokuk County had 2,292 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,453 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Richland itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Richland
- Brighton, IA9.0 mi · 600 people · home $92,900
- Fairfield, IA12.5 mi · 9,416 people · home $156,000
- Keota, IA12.6 mi · 897 people · home $106,600
- Sigourney, IA15.0 mi · 2,004 people · home $136,800
- Hedrick, IA16.4 mi · 728 people · home $79,600
- Washington, IA17.4 mi · 7,352 people · home $152,300
- Wayland, IA17.7 mi · 964 people · home $135,500
- Agency, IA20.9 mi · 620 people · home $157,300
Richland questions
Is Richland, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Richland scores better for retirees than 29% of Iowa towns and quieter than 80%. 13.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.1).
How much does a house cost in Richland?
The median owner-occupied home in Richland is valued at $135,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,446, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Richland?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 34.1 inches of snow.
Does Richland get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 31, 2023. 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)