The Town FilesMonticello, Iowa
City in Jones County · population 4,040 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,200
- Household income
- $70,015
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 42.6
Monticello is a city of 4,040 people in Jones County, Iowa. The median home is worth $175,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 92% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 89% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 88% of Iowa towns.
How Monticello 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 Monticello is worth $175,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $70,015, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $722 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monticello | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $722 | $820 |
| Median household income | $70,015 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Monticello
| People | Monticello | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Monticello
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 40.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monticello since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 13, 1990 about 7.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 18, 1998.
Severe weather in Jones County since 1996
Jones County has been included in 22 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 Jones County
Jones County had 6,253 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,095 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Monticello itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Monticello
4 public schools with 1,016 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello High School | 9-12 | 337 | 13.0 |
| Monticello Middle School | 5-8 | 316 | 13.7 |
| Carpenter Elementary School | 2-4 | 204 | 13.6 |
| Shannon Elementary School | PK-1 | 159 | 15.9 |
Towns near Monticello
- Anamosa, IA9.6 mi · 5,450 people · home $172,600
- Dyersville, IA17.8 mi · 4,477 people · home $234,100
- Manchester, IA22.4 mi · 5,065 people · home $139,400
- Marion, IA24.2 mi · 41,535 people · home $241,700
- Mount Vernon, IA24.5 mi · 4,527 people · home $245,200
- Robins, IA27.1 mi · 3,353 people · home $413,400
- Asbury, IA28.4 mi · 5,943 people · home $339,000
- Hiawatha, IA28.5 mi · 7,183 people · home $216,900
Monticello questions
Is Monticello, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monticello scores better for retirees than 84% of Iowa towns and quieter than 36%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Monticello?
The median owner-occupied home in Monticello is valued at $175,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,015, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $722 a month.
What is the weather like in Monticello?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.1 inches of precipitation a year and 32.1 inches of snow.
Does Monticello get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monticello since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 13, 1990. 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)