The Town FilesRiverside, Iowa
City in Washington County · population 1,060 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $183,700
- Household income
- $84,091
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 42.6
Riverside is a city of 1,060 people in Washington County, Iowa. The median home is worth $183,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 77% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 75% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 75% of Iowa towns.
How Riverside 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 Riverside is worth $183,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $84,091, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $918 a month. 81.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riverside | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $183,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $918 | $820 |
| Median household income | $84,091 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Riverside
| People | Riverside | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Riverside
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riverside since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1998 about 4.0 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 36 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 2, 2026.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 8,558 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,539 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Riverside itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Riverside
3 public schools with 559 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Elementary School | PK-5 | 278 | 13.2 |
| Highland High School | 9-12 | 169 | 10.6 |
| Highland Middle School | 6-8 | 112 | 16.0 |
Towns near Riverside
- Hills, IA5.4 mi · 863 people · home $240,200
- Kalona, IA6.7 mi · 2,630 people · home $257,900
- Lone Tree, IA7.5 mi · 1,357 people · home $179,800
- University Heights, IA11.9 mi · 1,228 people · home $429,900
- Iowa City, IA12.1 mi · 74,828 people · home $285,900
- Ainsworth, IA13.4 mi · 511 people · home $118,400
- Wellman, IA13.7 mi · 1,524 people · home $174,500
- Washington, IA14.3 mi · 7,352 people · home $152,300
Riverside questions
Is Riverside, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riverside scores better for retirees than 43% of Iowa towns and quieter than 39%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Riverside?
The median owner-occupied home in Riverside is valued at $183,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,091, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $918 a month.
What is the weather like in Riverside?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 27.6 inches of snow.
Does Riverside get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riverside since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 15, 1998. 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)