The Town FilesGarner, Iowa
City in Hancock County · population 3,065 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,300
- Household income
- $70,726
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 47.0
Garner is a city of 3,065 people in Hancock County, Iowa. The median home is worth $186,300, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for retirees than 96% of Iowa towns, quieter than 91% of Iowa towns.
How Garner 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 Garner is worth $186,300, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $70,726, which is more affordable than 30% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $740 a month. 80.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garner | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $740 | $820 |
| Median household income | $70,726 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.1% | — |
Who lives in Garner
| People | Garner | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 11.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Garner
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 6.3°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garner since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 10, 1953 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 27, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 28, 2018.
Severe weather in Hancock County since 1996
Hancock County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, 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 |
Jobs and pay in Hancock County
Hancock County had 5,982 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,900 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Garner itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Garner
3 public schools with 925 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Elementary School | PK-4 | 374 | 17.0 |
| Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School | 9-12 | 294 | 13.4 |
| Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Middle School | 5-8 | 257 | 15.1 |
Towns near Garner
- Forest City, IA11.0 mi · 4,285 people · home $143,500
- Clear Lake, IA11.8 mi · 7,687 people · home $259,500
- Mason City, IA20.6 mi · 27,338 people · home $142,000
- Clarion, IA26.2 mi · 2,810 people · home $116,200
Garner questions
Is Garner, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garner scores better for retirees than 96% of Iowa towns and quieter than 91%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Garner?
The median owner-occupied home in Garner is valued at $186,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,726, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $740 a month.
What is the weather like in Garner?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 6.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 39.7 inches of snow.
Does Garner get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 10, 1953. 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)