The Town FilesShenandoah, Iowa
City in Page County · population 4,925 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $116,700
- Household income
- $59,783
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 47.0
Shenandoah is a city of 4,925 people in Page County, Iowa. The median home is worth $116,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 96% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 96% of Iowa towns, hipper than 93% of Iowa towns.
- #4 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Iowa
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Iowa
- #14 in 25 Small Towns in Iowa With the Mildest Winters
- #15 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Iowa
- #16 in 25 Small Towns in Iowa With the Cheapest Homes
- #24 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Iowa
How Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah is worth $116,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $59,783, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $774 a month. 58.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Shenandoah | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $774 | $820 |
| Median household income | $59,783 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 58.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Shenandoah
| People | Shenandoah | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 14.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Shenandoah
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shenandoah since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 22, 1964 about 2.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 45 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 23, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Page County since 1996
Page County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| February 25, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1877: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| May 27, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Page County
Page County had 6,375 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,462 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Shenandoah itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Shenandoah
4 public schools with 1,010 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah Elementary School | K-4 | 351 | 11.3 |
| Shenandoah High School | 9-12 | 290 | 13.2 |
| Shenandoah Middle School | 5-8 | 282 | 13.4 |
| Logan Preschool | PK-PK | 87 | 43.5 |
Towns near Shenandoah
- Clarinda, IA17.8 mi · 5,369 people · home $114,200
- Red Oak, IA19.3 mi · 5,596 people · home $99,700
- Nebraska City, NE26.3 mi · 7,222 people · home $162,000
- Glenwood, IA27.6 mi · 5,073 people · home $206,200
Shenandoah questions
Is Shenandoah, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Shenandoah scores better for retirees than 71% of Iowa towns and quieter than 27%. 26.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Shenandoah?
The median owner-occupied home in Shenandoah is valued at $116,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,783, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $774 a month.
What is the weather like in Shenandoah?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 26.4 inches of snow.
Does Shenandoah get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Shenandoah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 22, 1964. 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)