The Town FilesVillisca, Iowa
City in Montgomery County · population 1,132 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,000
- Household income
- $60,465
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 26 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 44.9
Villisca is a city of 1,132 people in Montgomery County, Iowa. The median home is worth $77,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks easier by car than 91% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 83% of Iowa towns.
How Villisca 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 Villisca is worth $77,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $60,465, which is more affordable than 96% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $714 a month. 72.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Villisca | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $714 | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,465 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Villisca
| People | Villisca | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Villisca
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Villisca since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 8, 1999 about 5.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 36 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 19, 2020.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 20 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 |
| 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 |
| July 14, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4181: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 4,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,354 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Villisca itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Villisca
2 public schools with 254 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Valley Middle School | 6-8 | 135 | 11.3 |
| Sylvia Enarson Elementary School | PK-5 | 119 | 13.2 |
Towns near Villisca
- Stanton, IA7.3 mi · 678 people · home $113,400
- Corning, IA13.4 mi · 1,564 people · home $96,400
- Clarinda, IA13.6 mi · 5,369 people · home $114,200
- Red Oak, IA14.0 mi · 5,596 people · home $99,700
- Essex, IA18.2 mi · 722 people · home $89,900
- Lenox, IA22.3 mi · 1,339 people · home $111,400
- Bedford, IA22.4 mi · 1,508 people · home $96,800
- Griswold, IA22.6 mi · 994 people · home $98,900
Villisca questions
Is Villisca, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Villisca scores better for retirees than 83% of Iowa towns and quieter than 48%. 29.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Villisca?
The median owner-occupied home in Villisca is valued at $77,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,465, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $714 a month.
What is the weather like in Villisca?
July highs average 84.8°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 26.2 inches of snow.
Does Villisca get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Villisca 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)