The Town FilesWinterset, Iowa
City in Madison County · population 5,353 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,500
- Household income
- $67,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 37.5
Winterset is a city of 5,353 people in Madison County, Iowa. The median home is worth $192,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 94% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 91% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Winterset 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 Winterset is worth $192,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $67,708, which is more affordable than 20% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,095 a month. 64.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winterset | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,095 | $820 |
| Median household income | $67,708 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Winterset
| People | Winterset | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Winterset
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winterset since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 5, 2022 about 1.5 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 25, 2024.
Severe weather in Madison County since 1996
Madison County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 2, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1880: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Madison County
Madison County had 4,235 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Winterset itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Winterset
4 public schools with 1,663 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winterset Senior High School | 9-12 | 561 | 16.0 |
| Winterset Elementary School | PK-3 | 497 | 15.5 |
| Winterset Middle School | 4-6 | 373 | 15.5 |
| Winterset Junior High School | 7-8 | 232 | 13.6 |
Towns near Winterset
- Waukee, IA18.3 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
- Adel, IA18.3 mi · 6,153 people · home $327,900
- West Des Moines, IA18.6 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
- Norwalk, IA19.1 mi · 12,799 people · home $303,100
- Clive, IA21.6 mi · 18,601 people · home $401,100
- Indianola, IA23.2 mi · 15,833 people · home $237,500
- Urbandale, IA23.5 mi · 45,580 people · home $335,500
- Windsor Heights, IA23.8 mi · 5,252 people · home $267,900
Winterset questions
Is Winterset, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winterset scores better for retirees than 26% of Iowa towns and quieter than 18%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Winterset?
The median owner-occupied home in Winterset is valued at $192,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,708, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,095 a month.
What is the weather like in Winterset?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 30.7 inches of snow.
Does Winterset get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winterset since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 5, 2022. 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)