The Town FilesSwea City, Iowa
City in Kossuth County · population 566 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $56,400
- Household income
- $47,656
- Jan low / Jul high
- 5° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 39.3
Swea City is a city of 566 people in Kossuth County, Iowa. The median home is worth $56,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better transit than 96% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 92% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Swea 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 Swea City is worth $56,400, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $47,656, which is more affordable than 98% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $661 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swea City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $56,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $661 | $820 |
| Median household income | $47,656 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Swea City
| People | Swea City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Swea City
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.5°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swea City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 28, 1979 about 9.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 13, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 17, 2010.
Severe weather in Kossuth County since 1996
Kossuth County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 Kossuth County
Kossuth County had 6,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,766 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Swea City itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Swea City
2 public schools with 258 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Kossuth Elementary School | PK-5 | 140 | 15.6 |
| North Union Middle School | 6-8 | 118 | 14.8 |
Towns near Swea City
- Bancroft, IA7.8 mi · 699 people · home $120,700
- Armstrong, IA8.7 mi · 875 people · home $90,500
- Elmore, MN14.0 mi · 549 people · home $46,700
- Titonka, IA16.9 mi · 511 people · home $65,800
- Buffalo Center, IA18.5 mi · 857 people · home $100,500
- Fairmont, MN19.6 mi · 10,487 people · home $169,900
- Blue Earth, MN20.7 mi · 3,174 people · home $143,600
- Algona, IA21.6 mi · 5,487 people · home $160,800
Swea City questions
Is Swea City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swea City scores better for retirees than 58% of Iowa towns and quieter than 58%. 28.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Swea City?
The median owner-occupied home in Swea City is valued at $56,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,656, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $661 a month.
What is the weather like in Swea City?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 4.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 39.7 inches of snow.
Does Swea City get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swea City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 28, 1979. 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)