The Town FilesDenison, Iowa
City in Crawford County · population 8,373 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,200
- Household income
- $65,684
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 34.3
Denison is a city of 8,373 people in Crawford County, Iowa. The median home is worth $150,200, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better transit than 98% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 91% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 84% of Iowa towns.
How Denison 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 Denison is worth $150,200, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $65,684, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $731 a month. 71.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Denison | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $731 | $820 |
| Median household income | $65,684 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Denison
| People | Denison | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 30.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 12.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Denison
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Denison since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 16, 1992 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 15, 2024.
Severe weather in Crawford County since 1996
Crawford County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4870: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms 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 |
Jobs and pay in Crawford County
Crawford County had 6,524 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,067 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Denison itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Denison
4 public schools with 2,239 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denison High School | 9-12 | 773 | 18.0 |
| Denison Elementary School | PK-3 | 698 | 12.5 |
| Denison Middle School | 6-8 | 490 | 14.8 |
| Broadway Elementary School | 4-5 | 278 | 17.4 |
Towns near Denison
- Carroll, IA25.3 mi · 10,321 people · home $188,700
- Harlan, IA25.3 mi · 4,893 people · home $152,500
Denison questions
Is Denison, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Denison scores better for retirees than 6% of Iowa towns and quieter than 4%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Denison?
The median owner-occupied home in Denison is valued at $150,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,684, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $731 a month.
What is the weather like in Denison?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Denison get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Denison since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 16, 1992. 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)