The Town FilesSloan, Iowa
City in Woodbury County · population 1,042 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,900
- Household income
- $68,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 41.8
Sloan is a city of 1,042 people in Woodbury County, Iowa. The median home is worth $205,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 89% of Iowa towns, quieter than 87% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Sloan 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 Sloan is worth $205,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $68,125, which is more affordable than 14% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $755 a month. 67.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sloan | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $755 | $820 |
| Median household income | $68,125 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Sloan
| People | Sloan | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Sloan
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 8.5°F. About 29.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sloan since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on October 4, 2013 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 12, 2024.
Severe weather in Woodbury County since 1996
Woodbury County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4870: Severe Winter Storm |
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Woodbury County
Woodbury County had 51,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,684 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Sloan itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Sloan
2 public schools with 633 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westwood Elementary School | PK-6 | 331 | 11.0 |
| Westwood High School | 7-12 | 302 | 21.6 |
Towns near Sloan
- Whiting, IA8.2 mi · 745 people · home $113,800
- Macy, NE10.9 mi · 1,045 people · home $54,400
- Winnebago, NE12.6 mi · 916 people · home $66,600
- Sergeant Bluff, IA13.1 mi · 5,015 people · home $298,500
- Walthill, NE14.9 mi · 682 people · home $39,400
- Homer, NE15.0 mi · 532 people · home $162,900
- Onawa, IA15.8 mi · 2,906 people · home $145,800
- Dakota City, NE16.2 mi · 2,081 people · home $177,800
Sloan questions
Is Sloan, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sloan scores better for retirees than 67% of Iowa towns and quieter than 87%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Sloan?
The median owner-occupied home in Sloan is valued at $205,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,125, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $755 a month.
What is the weather like in Sloan?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 8.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 31.3 inches of snow.
Does Sloan get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sloan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on October 4, 2013. 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)