The Town FilesWellman, Iowa
City in Washington County · population 1,524 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,500
- Household income
- $57,560
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 40.4
Wellman is a city of 1,524 people in Washington County, Iowa. The median home is worth $174,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 71% of Iowa towns.
How Wellman 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 Wellman is worth $174,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $57,560, which is more affordable than 14% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $820 a month. 72.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wellman | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $820 | $820 |
| Median household income | $57,560 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wellman
| People | Wellman | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Wellman
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 28.0 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
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wellman since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 31, 2023 about 7.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 2, 2026.
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 Wellman itself the ACS puts it at 0.6%.
Public schools in Wellman
2 public schools with 702 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-Prairie High School | 9-12 | 374 | 13.9 |
| Mid-Prairie West Elementary School | 3-4 | 328 | 16.4 |
Towns near Wellman
- Kalona, IA7.0 mi · 2,630 people · home $257,900
- Keota, IA9.4 mi · 897 people · home $106,600
- North English, IA13.0 mi · 1,065 people · home $118,600
- Riverside, IA13.7 mi · 1,060 people · home $183,700
- Washington, IA13.9 mi · 7,352 people · home $152,300
- Williamsburg, IA16.6 mi · 3,346 people · home $204,300
- Hills, IA16.6 mi · 863 people · home $240,200
- Oxford, IA17.7 mi · 722 people · home $215,200
Wellman questions
Is Wellman, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wellman scores better for retirees than 56% of Iowa towns and quieter than 63%. 28.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Wellman?
The median owner-occupied home in Wellman is valued at $174,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,560, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $820 a month.
What is the weather like in Wellman?
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 28.0 inches of snow.
Does Wellman get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wellman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 31, 2023. 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)