The Town FilesZearing, Iowa
City in Story County · population 528 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,800
- Household income
- $74,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 34.7
Zearing is a city of 528 people in Story County, Iowa. The median home is worth $158,800, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 78% of Iowa towns, quieter than 73% of Iowa towns.
How Zearing 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 Zearing is worth $158,800, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $74,167, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $883 a month. 83.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zearing | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $883 | $820 |
| Median household income | $74,167 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Zearing
| People | Zearing | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Zearing
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zearing since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 24, 1989 about 8.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 21, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 19, 1998.
Severe weather in Story County since 1996
Story County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Story County
Story County had 47,549 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,615 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Zearing itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Zearing
1 public school with 164 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colo-Nesco Elementary School | PK-4 | 164 | 12.6 |
Towns near Zearing
- Colo, IA10.0 mi · 845 people · home $152,000
- Hubbard, IA10.2 mi · 860 people · home $106,100
- Roland, IA10.6 mi · 1,362 people · home $185,900
- State Center, IA12.0 mi · 1,391 people · home $167,400
- Radcliffe, IA13.0 mi · 555 people · home $118,300
- Nevada, IA13.2 mi · 6,925 people · home $182,400
- Story City, IA15.0 mi · 3,352 people · home $215,600
- Eldora, IA17.2 mi · 2,663 people · home $133,000
Zearing questions
Is Zearing, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zearing scores better for retirees than 48% of Iowa towns and quieter than 73%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Zearing?
The median owner-occupied home in Zearing is valued at $158,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,167, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $883 a month.
What is the weather like in Zearing?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 30.6 inches of snow.
Does Zearing get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zearing since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 24, 1989. 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)