The Town FilesWashburn, Iowa
Community in Black Hawk County · population 870 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $142,300
- Household income
- $61,406
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 31.8
Washburn is a community of 870 people in Black Hawk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $142,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 82% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Iowa towns, better for families than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Washburn 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 Washburn is worth $142,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $61,406, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $985 a month. 84.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washburn | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $142,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $985 | $820 |
| Median household income | $61,406 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washburn
| People | Washburn | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Washburn
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 26, 1965 about 8.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 76 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 28, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 4.75 inches on May 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Black Hawk County since 1996
Black Hawk County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Black Hawk County
Black Hawk County had 70,886 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,631 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Washburn itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Washburn
- Gilbertville, IA2.7 mi · 794 people · home $197,400
- Evansdale, IA3.8 mi · 4,561 people · home $150,300
- Elk Run Heights, IA4.1 mi · 1,069 people · home $171,200
- Raymond, IA4.5 mi · 759 people · home $222,600
- Waterloo, IA7.1 mi · 67,314 people · home $152,600
- La Porte City, IA7.7 mi · 2,284 people · home $163,200
- Hudson, IA9.6 mi · 2,546 people · home $242,700
- Jesup, IA11.2 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
Washburn questions
Is Washburn, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washburn scores better for retirees than 34% of Iowa towns and quieter than 38%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.8).
How much does a house cost in Washburn?
The median owner-occupied home in Washburn is valued at $142,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,406, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $985 a month.
What is the weather like in Washburn?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.6 inches of snow.
Does Washburn get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washburn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 26, 1965. 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)