The Town FilesTraer, Iowa
City in Tama County · population 1,583 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,900
- Household income
- $76,406
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 46.5
Traer is a city of 1,583 people in Tama County, Iowa. The median home is worth $151,900, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 76% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 71% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Traer 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 Traer is worth $151,900, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $76,406, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $971 a month. 76.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Traer | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $971 | $820 |
| Median household income | $76,406 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Traer
| People | Traer | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Traer
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.4°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Traer since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 24, 1989 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 14, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 15, 2017.
Severe weather in Tama County since 1996
Tama County has been included in 21 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 Tama County
Tama County had 5,356 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,774 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Traer itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Traer
2 public schools with 482 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Tama Elementary | PK-6 | 284 | 13.5 |
| North Tama High School | 7-12 | 198 | 10.4 |
Towns near Traer
- Dysart, IA8.0 mi · 1,281 people · home $158,300
- Reinbeck, IA11.3 mi · 1,662 people · home $165,000
- Gladbrook, IA12.9 mi · 799 people · home $125,200
- Toledo, IA15.0 mi · 2,369 people · home $118,400
- La Porte City, IA16.4 mi · 2,284 people · home $163,200
- Tama, IA16.5 mi · 3,130 people · home $106,800
- Hudson, IA17.0 mi · 2,546 people · home $242,700
- Washburn, IA18.3 mi · 870 people · home $142,300
Traer questions
Is Traer, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Traer scores better for retirees than 70% of Iowa towns and quieter than 51%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).
How much does a house cost in Traer?
The median owner-occupied home in Traer is valued at $151,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,406, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $971 a month.
What is the weather like in Traer?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 33.7 inches of snow.
Does Traer get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Traer 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)