The Town FilesMadrid, Iowa
City in Boone County · population 2,802 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,600
- Household income
- $89,844
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 39
- Median age
- 40.3
Madrid is a city of 2,802 people in Boone County, Iowa. The median home is worth $185,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 86% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 81% of Iowa towns.
- #1 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Iowa
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Iowa
- #17 in The 18 Best Small Towns for Families in Iowa
- #21 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #21 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
- #24 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Iowa
How Madrid 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 Madrid is worth $185,600, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $89,844, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,029 a month. 84.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Madrid | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,029 | $820 |
| Median household income | $89,844 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Madrid
| People | Madrid | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Madrid
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madrid since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 13, 1976 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 9, 2021.
Severe weather in Boone County since 1996
Boone County has been included in 17 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 |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Boone County
Boone County had 8,930 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,922 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Madrid itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Madrid
4 public schools with 641 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid Elementary School | K-5 | 266 | 14.8 |
| Madrid High School | 9-12 | 200 | 13.3 |
| Madrid Junior High School | 6-8 | 149 | 13.5 |
| Madrid Elementary Preschool | PK-PK | 26 | 8.7 |
Towns near Madrid
- Polk City, IA8.2 mi · 5,543 people · home $414,800
- Huxley, IA11.8 mi · 4,244 people · home $297,100
- Boone, IA12.3 mi · 12,460 people · home $173,000
- Johnston, IA13.6 mi · 24,064 people · home $369,100
- Grimes, IA13.7 mi · 15,392 people · home $304,700
- Perry, IA14.3 mi · 7,836 people · home $121,400
- Ames, IA14.6 mi · 66,427 people · home $277,400
- Ankeny, IA15.1 mi · 67,887 people · home $331,000
Madrid questions
Is Madrid, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Madrid scores better for retirees than 86% of Iowa towns and quieter than 79%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Madrid?
The median owner-occupied home in Madrid is valued at $185,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,844, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,029 a month.
What is the weather like in Madrid?
July highs average 83.9°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 33.4 inches of snow.
Does Madrid get tornadoes?
39 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Madrid since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 13, 1976. 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)