The Town FilesWellsburg, Iowa
City in Grundy County · population 720 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $118,500
- Household income
- $64,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 47.1
Wellsburg is a city of 720 people in Grundy County, Iowa. The median home is worth $118,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 98% of Iowa towns, quieter than 92% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Iowa towns.
How Wellsburg 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 Wellsburg is worth $118,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $64,375, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $584 a month. 90.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wellsburg | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $584 | $820 |
| Median household income | $64,375 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 90.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Wellsburg
| People | Wellsburg | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Wellsburg
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 36.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wellsburg since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF5, struck on May 25, 2008 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 10 deaths and 53 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 31, 1971.
Severe weather in Grundy County since 1996
Grundy 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 31, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4135: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grundy County
Grundy County had 4,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,116 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Wellsburg itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Wellsburg
2 public schools with 212 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGWSR Middle School | 6-8 | 144 | 14.4 |
| AGWSR Elementary at Wellsburg | PK-2 | 68 | 11.3 |
Towns near Wellsburg
- Grundy Center, IA9.2 mi · 2,796 people · home $177,900
- Eldora, IA10.3 mi · 2,663 people · home $133,000
- Ackley, IA10.4 mi · 1,599 people · home $103,900
- Aplington, IA10.5 mi · 1,116 people · home $147,500
- Parkersburg, IA12.3 mi · 2,015 people · home $196,700
- Conrad, IA14.8 mi · 1,093 people · home $164,700
- Dike, IA15.5 mi · 1,304 people · home $247,800
- New Hartford, IA18.1 mi · 570 people · home $114,700
Wellsburg questions
Is Wellsburg, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wellsburg scores better for retirees than 60% of Iowa towns and quieter than 92%. 29.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Wellsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Wellsburg is valued at $118,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,375, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $584 a month.
What is the weather like in Wellsburg?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.8 inches of precipitation a year and 32.3 inches of snow.
Does Wellsburg get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wellsburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF5 on May 25, 2008. 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)