The Town FilesCherokee, Iowa
City in Cherokee County · population 5,199 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,700
- Household income
- $61,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 43.2
Cherokee is a city of 5,199 people in Cherokee County, Iowa. The median home is worth $136,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 88% of Iowa towns, better transit than 86% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Cherokee 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 Cherokee is worth $136,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $61,750, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $728 a month. 67.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cherokee | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $728 | $820 |
| Median household income | $61,750 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cherokee
| People | Cherokee | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 12.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Cherokee
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 31.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherokee since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 23, 1952 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Cherokee County since 1996
Cherokee County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Cherokee County
Cherokee County had 4,858 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,452 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Cherokee itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Cherokee
3 public schools with 1,217 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee Elementary School | PK-4 | 484 | 14.2 |
| Washington High School | 9-12 | 377 | 14.0 |
| Cherokee Middle School | 5-8 | 356 | 16.2 |
Towns near Cherokee
- Storm Lake, IA19.5 mi · 11,269 people · home $172,200
Cherokee questions
Is Cherokee, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cherokee scores better for retirees than 81% of Iowa towns and quieter than 24%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Cherokee?
The median owner-occupied home in Cherokee is valued at $136,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,750, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $728 a month.
What is the weather like in Cherokee?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37.8 inches of snow.
Does Cherokee get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cherokee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 23, 1952. 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)