The Town FilesOelwein, Iowa
City in Fayette County · population 5,920 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $96,300
- Household income
- $46,653
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 42.4
Oelwein is a city of 5,920 people in Fayette County, Iowa. The median home is worth $96,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 95% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 94% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Oelwein 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 Oelwein is worth $96,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $46,653, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $847 a month. 76.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oelwein | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $96,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $847 | $820 |
| Median household income | $46,653 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Oelwein
| People | Oelwein | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Oelwein
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 8.6°F. About 35.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oelwein since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 15, 1968 about 0.8 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 185 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 8.00 inches on May 31, 1958.
Severe weather in Fayette County since 1996
Fayette County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Fayette County
Fayette County had 6,964 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,847 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Oelwein itself the ACS puts it at 7.6%.
Public schools in Oelwein
4 public schools with 1,213 students, about 14.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oelwein Middle School | 5-8 | 365 | 18.3 |
| Oelwein High School | 9-12 | 341 | 13.6 |
| Wings Park Elementary School | 1-4 | 323 | 11.1 |
| Little Husky Learning Center | PK-K | 184 | 20.4 |
Towns near Oelwein
- Independence, IA14.5 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Jesup, IA15.7 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
- Evansdale, IA23.1 mi · 4,561 people · home $150,300
- Waterloo, IA25.5 mi · 67,314 people · home $152,600
- Manchester, IA26.6 mi · 5,065 people · home $139,400
- Waverly, IA28.5 mi · 10,394 people · home $223,300
- Cedar Falls, IA29.5 mi · 40,713 people · home $263,600
Oelwein questions
Is Oelwein, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oelwein scores better for retirees than 26% of Iowa towns and quieter than 56%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Oelwein?
The median owner-occupied home in Oelwein is valued at $96,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,653, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $847 a month.
What is the weather like in Oelwein?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 8.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.4 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Oelwein get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oelwein since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 15, 1968. 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)