The Town FilesVentura, Iowa
City in Cerro Gordo County · population 711 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $389,500
- Household income
- $91,944
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 44.2
Ventura is a city of 711 people in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. The median home is worth $389,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Iowa towns, hipper than 96% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Ventura 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 Ventura is worth $389,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $91,944, which is more affordable than 1% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 81.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ventura | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $389,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $820 |
| Median household income | $91,944 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.1% | — |
Who lives in Ventura
| People | Ventura | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Ventura
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ventura since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 10, 1953 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 56 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 28, 2018.
Severe weather in Cerro Gordo County since 1996
Cerro Gordo County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 27, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cerro Gordo County
Cerro Gordo County had 23,531 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,949 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Ventura itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Ventura
- Clear Lake, IA4.7 mi · 7,687 people · home $259,500
- Garner, IA7.2 mi · 3,065 people · home $186,300
- Forest City, IA12.3 mi · 4,285 people · home $143,500
- Mason City, IA13.5 mi · 27,338 people · home $142,000
- Britt, IA17.1 mi · 2,044 people · home $101,900
- Manly, IA17.3 mi · 1,256 people · home $120,300
- Rockwell, IA17.4 mi · 1,071 people · home $163,300
- Lake Mills, IA20.2 mi · 2,143 people · home $122,600
Ventura questions
Is Ventura, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ventura scores better for retirees than 82% of Iowa towns and quieter than 42%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Ventura?
The median owner-occupied home in Ventura is valued at $389,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,944, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Ventura?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 44.4 inches of snow.
Does Ventura get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ventura since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 10, 1953. 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)