The Town FilesCenterville, Iowa
City in Appanoose County · population 5,412 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,000
- Household income
- $46,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 40.9
Centerville is a city of 5,412 people in Appanoose County, Iowa. The median home is worth $103,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 90% of Iowa towns, hipper than 90% of Iowa towns.
How Centerville 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 Centerville is worth $103,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $46,563, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $755 a month. 55.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Centerville | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $755 | $820 |
| Median household income | $46,563 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 55.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1946 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Centerville
| People | Centerville | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 14.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 88.5% |
Weather in Centerville
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centerville since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 20, 1959 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 9, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 57 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 17, 2017.
Severe weather in Appanoose County since 1996
Appanoose County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| July 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Appanoose County
Appanoose County had 4,614 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,114 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Centerville itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Centerville
4 public schools with 1,305 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeview Elementary | K-5 | 541 | 13.9 |
| Centerville High School | 9-12 | 400 | 16.7 |
| Howar Middle School | 6-8 | 306 | 17.0 |
| Centerville Community Preschool Bldg | PK-PK | 58 | 29.0 |
Towns near Centerville
- Albia, IA20.8 mi · 3,721 people · home $130,300
- Bloomfield, IA23.9 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
Centerville questions
Is Centerville, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Centerville scores better for retirees than 42% of Iowa towns and quieter than 30%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Centerville?
The median owner-occupied home in Centerville is valued at $103,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,563, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $755 a month.
What is the weather like in Centerville?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 21.5 inches of snow.
Does Centerville get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Centerville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 20, 1959. 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)