The Town Files

Fayette County, Iowa

19,288 people. The median home is worth $136,800 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $60,165.

Towns in Fayette County

Towns in Fayette County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Oelwein5,920$96,300$46,65342.4

People and housing

Fayette CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$136,800$156,300
Median rent$881$820
Median household income$60,165$69,254
Median age43.940.2
Bachelor's degree or higher20.7%21.8%
Below the poverty line12.0%9.3%

Jobs and pay

6,964 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,847 a year.

Largest industries in Fayette CountyManufacturing907 jobs · $65,726Retail765 jobs · $27,827Hotels & restaurants418 jobs · $13,823Construction394 jobs · $73,312Wholesale trade385 jobs · $67,669Other services236 jobs · $45,769
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Fayette County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 539 storm events in Fayette County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Fayette County by type since 1996Hail123Flood44Drought23Blizzard19High Wind14Heavy Rain19Heavy Snow19Flash Flood28Winter Storm48Winter Weather14
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Fayette County has been included in 22 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
March 23, 2019FloodDR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding
August 27, 2017Severe StormDR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
October 31, 2016FloodDR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding
September 29, 2016FloodDR-4281: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).