The Town FilesState Center, Iowa
City in Marshall County · population 1,391 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,400
- Household income
- $83,942
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 40.7
State Center is a city of 1,391 people in Marshall County, Iowa. The median home is worth $167,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 89% of Iowa towns.
How State Center 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 State Center is worth $167,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $83,942, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $766 a month. 82.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | State Center | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $766 | $820 |
| Median household income | $83,942 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in State Center
| People | State Center | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 18.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in State Center
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of State Center since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 19, 2018 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 18, 2003.
Severe weather in Marshall County since 1996
Marshall County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Marshall County
Marshall County had 16,042 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,625 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in State Center itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in State Center
3 public schools with 936 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Marshall Elementary School | PK-5 | 431 | 14.9 |
| West Marshall High School | 9-12 | 299 | 18.7 |
| West Marshall Middle School | 6-8 | 206 | 14.7 |
Towns near State Center
- Melbourne, IA6.0 mi · 786 people · home $155,400
- Colo, IA7.9 mi · 845 people · home $152,000
- Zearing, IA12.0 mi · 528 people · home $158,800
- Baxter, IA13.1 mi · 962 people · home $166,700
- Marshalltown, IA13.4 mi · 27,591 people · home $127,700
- Maxwell, IA14.6 mi · 859 people · home $184,600
- Nevada, IA15.6 mi · 6,925 people · home $182,400
- Le Grand, IA20.0 mi · 905 people · home $145,700
State Center questions
Is State Center, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, State Center scores better for retirees than 53% of Iowa towns and quieter than 67%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in State Center?
The median owner-occupied home in State Center is valued at $167,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,942, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $766 a month.
What is the weather like in State Center?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 30.6 inches of snow.
Does State Center get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of State Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 19, 2018. 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)