The Town FilesStratford, Iowa
City in Hamilton County · population 707 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $89,300
- Household income
- $47,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 60.8
Stratford is a city of 707 people in Hamilton County, Iowa. The median home is worth $89,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 82% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 74% of Iowa towns.
How Stratford 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 Stratford is worth $89,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $47,875, which is more affordable than 76% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $588 a month. 82.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stratford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $588 | $820 |
| Median household income | $47,875 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Stratford
| People | Stratford | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Stratford
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 6.9°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stratford since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 24, 1989 about 6.1 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 55 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 30, 2014.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, 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 Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 5,798 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,922 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Stratford itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Stratford
1 public school with 82 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratford Elementary | PK-6 | 82 | 11.7 |
Towns near Stratford
- Dayton, IA7.4 mi · 772 people · home $114,800
- Webster City, IA14.4 mi · 7,825 people · home $127,200
- Jewell Junction, IA15.0 mi · 1,216 people · home $148,100
- Coalville, IA15.2 mi · 651 people · home $197,500
- Boone, IA15.5 mi · 12,460 people · home $173,000
- Ogden, IA16.7 mi · 2,007 people · home $166,000
- Ellsworth, IA17.9 mi · 508 people · home $149,000
- Gilbert, IA18.3 mi · 1,211 people · home $274,600
Stratford questions
Is Stratford, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stratford scores better for retirees than 55% of Iowa towns and quieter than 82%. 42.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.8).
How much does a house cost in Stratford?
The median owner-occupied home in Stratford is valued at $89,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,875, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $588 a month.
What is the weather like in Stratford?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 6.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 33.4 inches of snow.
Does Stratford get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stratford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 24, 1989. 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)