The Town FilesStory City, Iowa
City in Story County · population 3,352 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $215,600
- Household income
- $96,605
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 38.7
Story City is a city of 3,352 people in Story County, Iowa. The median home is worth $215,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 94% of Iowa towns, hipper than 93% of Iowa towns.
How Story City 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 Story City is worth $215,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $96,605, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $999 a month. 78.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Story City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $215,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $999 | $820 |
| Median household income | $96,605 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Story City
| People | Story City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Story City
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 10.9°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Story City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 13, 1976 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 19, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 93 times; the largest was 5.00 inches on May 30, 1998.
Severe weather in Story County since 1996
Story County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Story County
Story County had 47,549 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,615 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Story City itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Story City
2 public schools with 808 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roland-Story Elementary School | PK-4 | 464 | 16.0 |
| Roland-Story High School | 9-12 | 344 | 17.2 |
Towns near Story City
- Ames, IA11.2 mi · 66,427 people · home $277,400
- Nevada, IA13.1 mi · 6,925 people · home $182,400
- Boone, IA17.4 mi · 12,460 people · home $173,000
- Huxley, IA20.0 mi · 4,244 people · home $297,100
- Webster City, IA22.5 mi · 7,825 people · home $127,200
- Madrid, IA24.6 mi · 2,802 people · home $185,600
- Eldora, IA27.6 mi · 2,663 people · home $133,000
- Iowa Falls, IA28.2 mi · 5,106 people · home $123,800
Story City questions
Is Story City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Story City scores better for retirees than 92% of Iowa towns and quieter than 49%. 21.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.7).
How much does a house cost in Story City?
The median owner-occupied home in Story City is valued at $215,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,605, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $999 a month.
What is the weather like in Story City?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 10.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 32.2 inches of snow.
Does Story City get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Story City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 13, 1976. 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)