The Town FilesWashington, Iowa
City in Washington County · population 7,352 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,300
- Household income
- $55,373
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 42.5
Washington is a city of 7,352 people in Washington County, Iowa. The median home is worth $152,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Iowa towns, better transit than 94% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Iowa towns.
How Washington 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 Washington is worth $152,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,373, which is more affordable than 20% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $968 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $968 | $820 |
| Median household income | $55,373 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 11.5°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1998 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 6, 1999.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 15 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 |
| 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 Washington County
Washington County had 8,558 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,539 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Washington
4 public schools with 1,621 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart Elementary School | PK-2 | 493 | 15.4 |
| Washington High School | 9-12 | 435 | 16.1 |
| Washington Middle School | 6-8 | 349 | 11.3 |
| Lincoln Upper Elementary School | 3-5 | 344 | 12.3 |
Towns near Washington
- Kalona, IA13.1 mi · 2,630 people · home $257,900
- Mount Pleasant, IA24.4 mi · 9,274 people · home $160,900
- Fairfield, IA24.6 mi · 9,416 people · home $156,000
- Iowa City, IA26.1 mi · 74,828 people · home $285,900
- Coralville, IA28.1 mi · 22,318 people · home $298,500
- Tiffin, IA28.2 mi · 4,512 people · home $338,500
- West Liberty, IA29.3 mi · 3,858 people · home $180,000
Washington questions
Is Washington, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 19% of Iowa towns and quieter than 15%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $152,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,373, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $968 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 11.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 25.2 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 15, 1998. 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)