The Town Files

Mahaska County, Iowa

22,021 people. The median home is worth $157,800 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $70,940.

Towns in Mahaska County

Towns in Mahaska County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Oskaloosa11,558$153,300$64,00437.6

People and housing

Mahaska CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$157,800$156,300
Median rent$793$820
Median household income$70,940$69,254
Median age39.040.2
Bachelor's degree or higher24.1%21.8%
Below the poverty line12.6%9.3%

Jobs and pay

7,887 jobs in 2024, average pay $55,503 a year.

Largest industries in Mahaska CountyManufacturing1,921 jobs · $84,376Retail988 jobs · $29,610Hotels & restaurants673 jobs · $17,464Health care & social assistan…617 jobs · $41,866Education330 jobs · $34,488Other services294 jobs · $30,109
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Mahaska County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 2.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 559 storm events in Mahaska County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Mahaska County by type since 1996Hail75Flood117Drought32Tornado15Blizzard12High Wind26Ice Storm11Heavy Rain39Heavy Snow19Flash Flood29
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Mahaska County has been included in 20 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 5, 2014Severe StormDR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
July 2, 2013Severe StormDR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 29, 2010Severe StormDR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).