The Town FilesWinthrop, Iowa
City in Buchanan County · population 823 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,200
- Household income
- $69,792
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 36
- Median age
- 35.9
Winthrop is a city of 823 people in Buchanan County, Iowa. The median home is worth $158,200, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 88% of Iowa towns, better transit than 82% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 80% of Iowa towns.
How Winthrop 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 Winthrop is worth $158,200, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $69,792, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,077 a month. 78.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Winthrop | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,077 | $820 |
| Median household income | $69,792 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Winthrop
| People | Winthrop | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Winthrop
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winthrop since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1954 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Buchanan County since 1996
Buchanan County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Buchanan County
Buchanan County had 6,619 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,047 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Winthrop itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Winthrop
3 public schools with 581 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Buchanan Elementary School | PK-6 | 316 | 15.0 |
| East Buchanan High School | 9-12 | 179 | 11.2 |
| East Buchanan Middle School | 7-8 | 86 | 17.2 |
Towns near Winthrop
- Quasqueton, IA5.4 mi · 570 people · home $145,800
- Independence, IA8.5 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Walker, IA12.9 mi · 688 people · home $172,400
- Hazleton, IA13.3 mi · 713 people · home $85,900
- Manchester, IA14.4 mi · 5,065 people · home $139,400
- Oelwein, IA16.5 mi · 5,920 people · home $96,300
- Jesup, IA16.7 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
- Coggon, IA17.0 mi · 701 people · home $164,700
Winthrop questions
Is Winthrop, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Winthrop scores better for retirees than 17% of Iowa towns and quieter than 31%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Winthrop?
The median owner-occupied home in Winthrop is valued at $158,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,792, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,077 a month.
What is the weather like in Winthrop?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 33.9 inches of snow.
Does Winthrop get tornadoes?
36 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Winthrop since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 30, 1954. 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)