The Town FilesEldora, Iowa
City in Hardin County · population 2,663 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,000
- Household income
- $77,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 39.5
Eldora is a city of 2,663 people in Hardin County, Iowa. The median home is worth $133,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 75% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 74% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 70% of Iowa towns.
How Eldora 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 Eldora is worth $133,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $77,188, which is more affordable than 88% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $750 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eldora | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $750 | $820 |
| Median household income | $77,188 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Eldora
| People | Eldora | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 19.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Eldora
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 8.4°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eldora since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 30, 1989 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 9, 2009.
Severe weather in Hardin County since 1996
Hardin County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| 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 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Hardin County
Hardin County had 6,483 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,065 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Eldora itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Eldora
2 public schools with 484 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldora-New Providence Elementary School | PK-5 | 248 | 11.3 |
| South Hardin High School | 9-12 | 236 | 14.8 |
Towns near Eldora
- Iowa Falls, IA13.8 mi · 5,106 people · home $123,800
- Grundy Center, IA16.7 mi · 2,796 people · home $177,900
- Marshalltown, IA24.7 mi · 27,591 people · home $127,700
- Hampton, IA26.9 mi · 4,337 people · home $99,400
- Story City, IA27.6 mi · 3,352 people · home $215,600
Eldora questions
Is Eldora, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eldora scores better for retirees than 6% of Iowa towns and quieter than 29%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Eldora?
The median owner-occupied home in Eldora is valued at $133,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,188, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $750 a month.
What is the weather like in Eldora?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 8.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 33.2 inches of snow.
Does Eldora get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eldora since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 30, 1989. 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)