The Town FilesWest Branch, Iowa
City in Cedar County · population 2,509 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $216,100
- Household income
- $92,209
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 36.7
West Branch is a city of 2,509 people in Cedar County, Iowa. The median home is worth $216,100, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 84% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 77% of Iowa towns.
How West Branch 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 Branch is worth $216,100, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $92,209, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,053 a month. 82.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Branch | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,100 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,053 | $820 |
| Median household income | $92,209 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 82.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Branch
| People | West Branch | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in West Branch
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Branch since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1998 about 7.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 36 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 10, 2026.
Severe weather in Cedar County since 1996
Cedar County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Cedar County
Cedar County had 5,170 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,261 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in West Branch itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in West Branch
3 public schools with 864 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoover Elementary School | PK-4 | 378 | 14.0 |
| West Branch High School | 9-12 | 257 | 12.9 |
| West Branch Middle School | 5-8 | 229 | 15.3 |
Towns near West Branch
- West Liberty, IA7.7 mi · 3,858 people · home $180,000
- Iowa City, IA9.7 mi · 74,828 people · home $285,900
- Solon, IA12.6 mi · 3,018 people · home $309,400
- Coralville, IA13.2 mi · 22,318 people · home $298,500
- Tipton, IA13.3 mi · 3,149 people · home $165,500
- North Liberty, IA14.8 mi · 20,479 people · home $303,800
- Tiffin, IA16.2 mi · 4,512 people · home $338,500
- Wilton, IA17.3 mi · 2,924 people · home $189,200
West Branch questions
Is West Branch, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Branch scores better for retirees than 50% of Iowa towns and quieter than 53%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.7).
How much does a house cost in West Branch?
The median owner-occupied home in West Branch is valued at $216,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,209, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,053 a month.
What is the weather like in West Branch?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 27.5 inches of snow.
Does West Branch get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Branch 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)