The Town FilesWest Bend, Iowa
City in Palo Alto County · population 791 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $159,700
- Household income
- $86,154
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 35.6
West Bend is a city of 791 people in Palo Alto County, Iowa. The median home is worth $159,700, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 86% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns, better transit than 70% of Iowa towns.
How West Bend 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 West Bend is worth $159,700, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $86,154, which is more affordable than 76% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $538 a month. 84.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Bend | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $538 | $820 |
| Median household income | $86,154 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.4% | — |
Who lives in West Bend
| People | West Bend | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 12.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in West Bend
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 6.0°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 10 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 West Bend since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 7, 1984 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 4, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 28, 2018.
Severe weather in Palo Alto County since 1996
Palo Alto County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Palo Alto County
Palo Alto County had 3,615 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,406 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in West Bend itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in West Bend
3 public schools with 414 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bend-Mallard Elementary School | PK-4 | 184 | 16.7 |
| West Bend-Mallard High School | 9-12 | 123 | 11.2 |
| West Bend-Mallard Middle School | 5-8 | 107 | 21.4 |
Towns near West Bend
- Rolfe, IA11.0 mi · 509 people · home $48,500
- Algona, IA13.5 mi · 5,487 people · home $160,800
- Emmetsburg, IA15.9 mi · 3,706 people · home $114,300
- Pocahontas, IA19.0 mi · 1,867 people · home $106,100
- Humboldt, IA19.8 mi · 4,792 people · home $173,600
- Dakota City, IA20.6 mi · 759 people · home $119,800
- Laurens, IA21.8 mi · 1,264 people · home $60,300
- Graettinger, IA24.6 mi · 832 people · home $88,500
West Bend questions
Is West Bend, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Bend scores better for retirees than 85% of Iowa towns and quieter than 53%. 26.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in West Bend?
The median owner-occupied home in West Bend is valued at $159,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,154, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $538 a month.
What is the weather like in West Bend?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 6.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 37.8 inches of snow.
Does West Bend get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Bend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 7, 1984. 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)