The Town FilesVan Meter, Iowa
City in Dallas County · population 1,484 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $264,000
- Household income
- $135,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 48
- Median age
- 38.0
Van Meter is a city of 1,484 people in Dallas County, Iowa. The median home is worth $264,000, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 98% of Iowa towns, better for families than 96% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Iowa towns.
How Van Meter 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 Van Meter is worth $264,000, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $135,139, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 92.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Van Meter | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $264,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $820 |
| Median household income | $135,139 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 92.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Van Meter
| People | Van Meter | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 33.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 16.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Van Meter
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Meter since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 91 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 20 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 |
| 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 Dallas County
Dallas County had 55,258 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,316 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Van Meter itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Van Meter
3 public schools with 1,117 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Meter Elementary School | PK-5 | 571 | 16.8 |
| Van Meter High School | 9-12 | 305 | 14.5 |
| Van Meter Middle School | 6-8 | 241 | 40.2 |
Towns near Van Meter
- De Soto, IA3.5 mi · 915 people · home $227,700
- Waukee, IA5.5 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
- Adel, IA6.8 mi · 6,153 people · home $327,900
- West Des Moines, IA8.6 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
- Earlham, IA9.4 mi · 1,410 people · home $267,600
- Clive, IA9.7 mi · 18,601 people · home $401,100
- Dallas Center, IA11.3 mi · 1,901 people · home $246,800
- Urbandale, IA11.5 mi · 45,580 people · home $335,500
Van Meter questions
Is Van Meter, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Van Meter scores better for retirees than 35% of Iowa towns and quieter than 35%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Van Meter?
The median owner-occupied home in Van Meter is valued at $264,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $135,139, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Van Meter?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 33.9 inches of snow.
Does Van Meter get tornadoes?
48 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Meter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)