The Town FilesCenter Point, Iowa
City in Linn County · population 2,579 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,400
- Household income
- $95,192
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 36.4
Center Point is a city of 2,579 people in Linn County, Iowa. The median home is worth $212,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for families than 94% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 86% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 80% of Iowa towns.
How Center Point 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 Center Point is worth $212,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $95,192, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 78.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Center Point | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $798 | $820 |
| Median household income | $95,192 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Center Point
| People | Center Point | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 26.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Center Point
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center Point since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 30, 1954 about 3.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 22, 2015.
Severe weather in Linn County since 1996
Linn County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Linn County
Linn County had 125,917 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,613 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Center Point itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Center Point
3 public schools with 1,158 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center Point-Urbana High School | 9-12 | 462 | 15.4 |
| Center Point-Urbana Primary School | PK-2 | 379 | 14.6 |
| Center Point-Urbana Middle School | 6-8 | 317 | 13.2 |
Towns near Center Point
- Robins, IA9.1 mi · 3,353 people · home $413,400
- Hiawatha, IA10.0 mi · 7,183 people · home $216,900
- Vinton, IA12.7 mi · 4,938 people · home $152,300
- Marion, IA13.8 mi · 41,535 people · home $241,700
- Cedar Rapids, IA16.0 mi · 137,710 people · home $187,100
- Fairfax, IA17.8 mi · 2,828 people · home $274,500
- Independence, IA20.2 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Jesup, IA24.8 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
Center Point questions
Is Center Point, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Center Point scores better for retirees than 67% of Iowa towns and quieter than 35%. 13.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Center Point?
The median owner-occupied home in Center Point is valued at $212,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,192, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Center Point?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 32.6 inches of snow.
Does Center Point get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center Point 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)