The Town FilesWalker, Iowa
City in Linn County · population 688 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $172,400
- Household income
- $82,656
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 36.0
Walker is a city of 688 people in Linn County, Iowa. The median home is worth $172,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 94% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 86% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 80% of Iowa towns.
How Walker 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 Walker is worth $172,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $82,656, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $808 a month. 81.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Walker | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $172,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $808 | $820 |
| Median household income | $82,656 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Walker
| People | Walker | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 27.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Walker
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 9.0°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walker since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1954 about 6.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 22, 2021.
Severe weather in Linn County since 1996
Linn County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Linn County
Linn County had 125,917 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,613 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Walker itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Towns near Walker
- Urbana, IA6.6 mi · 1,554 people · home $228,900
- Center Point, IA7.2 mi · 2,579 people · home $212,400
- Quasqueton, IA7.5 mi · 570 people · home $145,800
- Alburnett, IA12.6 mi · 675 people · home $199,200
- Winthrop, IA12.9 mi · 823 people · home $158,200
- Coggon, IA12.9 mi · 701 people · home $164,700
- Independence, IA13.6 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Shellsburg, IA14.2 mi · 961 people · home $175,800
Walker questions
Is Walker, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Walker scores better for retirees than 67% of Iowa towns and quieter than 35%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Walker?
The median owner-occupied home in Walker is valued at $172,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,656, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $808 a month.
What is the weather like in Walker?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 9.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34.0 inches of snow.
Does Walker get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Walker since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1954. 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)