The Town FilesAdel, Iowa
City in Dallas County · population 6,153 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $327,900
- Household income
- $95,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 45
- Median age
- 36.5
Adel is a city of 6,153 people in Dallas County, Iowa. The median home is worth $327,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 92% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 91% of Iowa towns, hipper than 85% of Iowa towns.
How Adel 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 Adel is worth $327,900, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $95,250, which is more affordable than 5% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $926 a month. 65.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Adel | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $327,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $926 | $820 |
| Median household income | $95,250 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Adel
| People | Adel | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Adel
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 36.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adel since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1995 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 95 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 28, 2017.
Severe weather in Dallas County since 1996
Dallas County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dallas County
Dallas County had 55,258 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,316 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Adel itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Adel
4 public schools with 1,962 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADM Senior High School | 9-12 | 682 | 17.1 |
| Meadow View Elementary | 2-4 | 523 | 13.8 |
| Adel Elementary School | PK-1 | 413 | 13.3 |
| ADM Middle School | 7-8 | 344 | 14.3 |
Towns near Adel
- Waukee, IA6.8 mi · 23,940 people · home $350,500
- Clive, IA11.0 mi · 18,601 people · home $401,100
- Grimes, IA11.9 mi · 15,392 people · home $304,700
- Urbandale, IA12.2 mi · 45,580 people · home $335,500
- West Des Moines, IA12.6 mi · 68,723 people · home $309,000
- Windsor Heights, IA15.5 mi · 5,252 people · home $267,900
- Johnston, IA15.9 mi · 24,064 people · home $369,100
- Perry, IA16.3 mi · 7,836 people · home $121,400
Adel questions
Is Adel, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Adel scores better for retirees than 46% of Iowa towns and quieter than 17%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Adel?
The median owner-occupied home in Adel is valued at $327,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,250, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $926 a month.
What is the weather like in Adel?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34.8 inches of snow.
Does Adel get tornadoes?
45 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Adel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1995. 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)