The Town FilesStuart, Iowa
City in Guthrie County · population 1,782 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $159,500
- Household income
- $65,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.9
Stuart is a city of 1,782 people in Guthrie County, Iowa. The median home is worth $159,500, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 75% of Iowa towns.
How Stuart 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 Stuart is worth $159,500, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $65,000, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $717 a month. 70.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stuart | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $717 | $820 |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Stuart
| People | Stuart | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Stuart
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 9.6°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stuart since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 8, 1999 about 8.0 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 78 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 2, 1999.
Severe weather in Guthrie County since 1996
Guthrie County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Guthrie County
Guthrie County had 3,271 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,155 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Stuart itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Stuart
2 public schools with 485 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Central Valley High School | 9-12 | 261 | 11.9 |
| Stuart Elementary School | PK-2 | 224 | 17.2 |
Towns near Stuart
- Dexter, IA4.8 mi · 640 people · home $163,500
- Redfield, IA8.8 mi · 731 people · home $142,800
- Earlham, IA10.1 mi · 1,410 people · home $267,600
- Panora, IA13.4 mi · 1,091 people · home $182,000
- Greenfield, IA15.3 mi · 2,062 people · home $137,700
- Guthrie Center, IA15.4 mi · 1,593 people · home $123,800
- Lake Panorama, IA15.9 mi · 1,266 people · home $388,600
- De Soto, IA16.1 mi · 915 people · home $227,700
Stuart questions
Is Stuart, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stuart scores better for retirees than 75% of Iowa towns and quieter than 64%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.9).
How much does a house cost in Stuart?
The median owner-occupied home in Stuart is valued at $159,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,000, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $717 a month.
What is the weather like in Stuart?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 9.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 28.9 inches of snow.
Does Stuart get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stuart since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 8, 1999. 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)