The Town FilesAtlantic, Iowa
City in Cass County · population 6,792 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,900
- Household income
- $61,141
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 43.5
Atlantic is a city of 6,792 people in Cass County, Iowa. The median home is worth $149,900, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 99% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 85% of Iowa towns, better transit than 78% of Iowa towns.
How Atlantic 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 Atlantic is worth $149,900, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $61,141, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $764 a month. 62.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Atlantic | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $764 | $820 |
| Median household income | $61,141 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Atlantic
| People | Atlantic | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 10.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Atlantic
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atlantic since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 20, 1964 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 13, 2001.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| March 2, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1880: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 5,866 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,005 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Atlantic itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Atlantic
4 public schools with 1,582 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Elementary School | PK-3 | 529 | 14.7 |
| Atlantic High School | 9-12 | 475 | 14.4 |
| Atlantic Middle School | 6-8 | 348 | 15.8 |
| Schuler Elementary School | 4-5 | 230 | 15.3 |
Towns near Atlantic
- Harlan, IA23.7 mi · 4,893 people · home $152,500
- Red Oak, IA28.2 mi · 5,596 people · home $99,700
Atlantic questions
Is Atlantic, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Atlantic scores better for retirees than 44% of Iowa towns and quieter than 23%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Atlantic?
The median owner-occupied home in Atlantic is valued at $149,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,141, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $764 a month.
What is the weather like in Atlantic?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 27.3 inches of snow.
Does Atlantic get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Atlantic since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 20, 1964. 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)