The Town FilesDecorah, Iowa
City in Winneshiek County · population 7,587 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,500
- Household income
- $64,366
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 39.5
Decorah is a city of 7,587 people in Winneshiek County, Iowa. The median home is worth $244,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 100% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Iowa towns, hipper than 99% of Iowa towns.
How Decorah 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 Decorah is worth $244,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $64,366, which is more affordable than 2% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $853 a month. 61.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Decorah | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $853 | $820 |
| Median household income | $64,366 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.9% | — |
Who lives in Decorah
| People | Decorah | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 12.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 12.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Decorah
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decorah since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 29, 1987 about 3.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on August 25, 1965.
Severe weather in Winneshiek County since 1996
Winneshiek County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, 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 |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Winneshiek County
Winneshiek County had 10,479 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,439 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Decorah itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Decorah
5 public schools with 1,568 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decorah High School | 9-12 | 569 | 15.0 |
| Decorah Middle School | 5-8 | 436 | 12.5 |
| John Cline Elementary School | K-2 | 310 | 11.9 |
| Carrie Lee Elementary | 3-4 | 228 | 15.2 |
| West Side Elementary School | PK-K | 25 | — |
Towns near Decorah
- Waukon, IA15.6 mi · 3,827 people · home $147,200
- Cresco, IA17.4 mi · 3,888 people · home $117,200
- Postville, IA18.6 mi · 2,503 people · home $104,700
- Caledonia, MN27.0 mi · 2,847 people · home $157,900
Decorah questions
Is Decorah, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Decorah scores better for retirees than 100% of Iowa towns and quieter than 22%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Decorah?
The median owner-occupied home in Decorah is valued at $244,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,366, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $853 a month.
What is the weather like in Decorah?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 37.5 inches of snow.
Does Decorah get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Decorah since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 29, 1987. 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)