The Town FilesDubuque, Iowa
City in Dubuque County · population 59,667 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,800
- Household income
- $65,845
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 38.1
Dubuque is a city of 59,667 people in Dubuque County, Iowa. The median home is worth $204,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Iowa towns, better transit than 98% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 97% of Iowa towns.
How Dubuque 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 Dubuque is worth $204,800, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $65,845, which is more affordable than 10% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $948 a month. 65.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dubuque | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $948 | $820 |
| Median household income | $65,845 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 65.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Dubuque
| People | Dubuque | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 14.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Dubuque
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 10.1°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dubuque since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 9, 1970 about 1.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 3, 2011.
Severe weather in Dubuque County since 1996
Dubuque 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 |
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dubuque County
Dubuque County had 58,413 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,669 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Dubuque itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Dubuque
17 public schools with 9,728 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hempstead High School | 9-12 | 1,549 | 15.3 |
| Dubuque Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,466 | 11.3 |
| Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School | 6-8 | 1,063 | 14.0 |
| George Washington Middle School | 6-8 | 607 | 11.7 |
| Eisenhower Elementary School | PK-5 | 595 | 16.5 |
| John Kennedy Elementary School | PK-5 | 535 | 14.1 |
| Carver Elementary School | PK-5 | 501 | 15.2 |
| Thomas Jefferson Middle School | 6-8 | 454 | 10.1 |
| Table Mound Elementary School | PK-5 | 407 | 13.6 |
| Irving Elementary School | PK-5 | 407 | 13.6 |
| Prescott Elementary School | PK-5 | 383 | 8.9 |
| Marshall Elementary School | PK-5 | 335 | 10.8 |
Towns near Dubuque
- Asbury, IA3.8 mi · 5,943 people · home $339,000
- Galena, IL15.2 mi · 3,308 people · home $233,200
- Platteville, WI20.0 mi · 11,836 people · home $200,100
- Dyersville, IA20.9 mi · 4,477 people · home $234,100
- Lancaster, WI24.1 mi · 3,907 people · home $204,000
Dubuque questions
Is Dubuque, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dubuque scores better for retirees than 17% of Iowa towns and quieter than 6%. 20.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Dubuque?
The median owner-occupied home in Dubuque is valued at $204,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,845, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $948 a month.
What is the weather like in Dubuque?
July highs average 84.5°F and January lows 10.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 36.1 inches of snow.
Does Dubuque get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dubuque since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 9, 1970. 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)