The Town FilesGrinnell, Iowa
City in Poweshiek County · population 9,564 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $209,500
- Household income
- $65,320
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 36.5
Grinnell is a city of 9,564 people in Poweshiek County, Iowa. The median home is worth $209,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Iowa towns, hipper than 99% of Iowa towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Iowa towns.
How Grinnell 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 Grinnell is worth $209,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $65,320, which is more affordable than 8% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $895 a month. 64.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grinnell | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $209,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $895 | $820 |
| Median household income | $65,320 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Grinnell
| People | Grinnell | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 17.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 12.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Grinnell
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.2°F. About 38.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grinnell since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 16, 1978 about 3.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 56 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 44 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 10, 2003.
Severe weather in Poweshiek County since 1996
Poweshiek 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 |
| 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 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Poweshiek County
Poweshiek County had 9,584 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,595 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Grinnell itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Grinnell
5 public schools with 1,532 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grinnell Community Senior High School | 9-12 | 486 | 15.2 |
| Grinnell Community Middle School | 5-8 | 439 | 12.9 |
| Fairview Elementary School | PK-2 | 241 | 14.2 |
| Davis Elementary School | 3-4 | 228 | 16.3 |
| Bailey Park Elementary School | K-2 | 138 | 13.8 |
Towns near Grinnell
- Newton, IA16.5 mi · 15,760 people · home $153,700
- Tama, IA17.7 mi · 3,130 people · home $106,800
- Marshalltown, IA22.7 mi · 27,591 people · home $127,700
- Pella, IA24.9 mi · 10,464 people · home $292,700
Grinnell questions
Is Grinnell, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grinnell scores better for retirees than 73% of Iowa towns and quieter than 6%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Grinnell?
The median owner-occupied home in Grinnell is valued at $209,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,320, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $895 a month.
What is the weather like in Grinnell?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 10.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.2 inches of precipitation a year and 31.0 inches of snow.
Does Grinnell get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grinnell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 16, 1978. 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)