The Town FilesAlbia, Iowa
City in Monroe County · population 3,721 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $130,300
- Household income
- $70,455
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 38.1
Albia is a city of 3,721 people in Monroe County, Iowa. The median home is worth $130,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300).
How Albia 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 Albia is worth $130,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $70,455, which is more affordable than 83% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $915 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Albia | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $915 | $820 |
| Median household income | $70,455 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Albia
| People | Albia | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Albia
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 13.2°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albia since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 7, 1984 about 2.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 20, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on May 20, 1998.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 16 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 |
| July 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 3,718 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,659 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Albia itself the ACS puts it at 5.1%.
Public schools in Albia
5 public schools with 1,123 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albia High School | 9-12 | 378 | 15.8 |
| Lincoln Center | 3-6 | 304 | 13.8 |
| Grant Center | K-2 | 226 | 13.3 |
| Albia Middle School | 7-8 | 151 | 30.2 |
| Kendall Center | PK-PK | 64 | 32.0 |
Towns near Albia
- Ottumwa, IA19.8 mi · 25,529 people · home $106,300
- Oskaloosa, IA20.2 mi · 11,558 people · home $153,300
- Centerville, IA20.8 mi · 5,412 people · home $103,000
- Knoxville, IA25.5 mi · 7,595 people · home $160,300
- Chariton, IA26.4 mi · 4,193 people · home $81,900
- Pella, IA26.8 mi · 10,464 people · home $292,700
- Bloomfield, IA27.8 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
Albia questions
Is Albia, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Albia scores better for retirees than 38% of Iowa towns and quieter than 52%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Albia?
The median owner-occupied home in Albia is valued at $130,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,455, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $915 a month.
What is the weather like in Albia?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 13.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 30.0 inches of snow.
Does Albia get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Albia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 7, 1984. 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)