The Town FilesOsage, Iowa
City in Mitchell County · population 3,627 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,700
- Household income
- $68,730
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 43.4
Osage is a city of 3,627 people in Mitchell County, Iowa. The median home is worth $160,700, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 99% of Iowa towns, hipper than 97% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 91% of Iowa towns.
How Osage 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 Osage is worth $160,700, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $68,730, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $692 a month. 76.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Osage | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $692 | $820 |
| Median household income | $68,730 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Osage
| People | Osage | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Osage
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 6.2°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osage since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1965 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 27, 1990.
Severe weather in Mitchell County since 1996
Mitchell County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Mitchell County
Mitchell County had 3,874 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,933 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Osage itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Osage
3 public schools with 983 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Elementary School | PK-4 | 405 | 14.5 |
| Osage High School | 9-12 | 295 | 12.8 |
| Osage Middle School | 5-8 | 283 | 17.7 |
Towns near Osage
- Charles City, IA16.6 mi · 7,396 people · home $115,400
- Mason City, IA21.7 mi · 27,338 people · home $142,000
- Austin, MN28.2 mi · 26,174 people · home $163,900
- New Hampton, IA29.5 mi · 3,494 people · home $167,700
Osage questions
Is Osage, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Osage scores better for retirees than 57% of Iowa towns and quieter than 18%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Osage?
The median owner-occupied home in Osage is valued at $160,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,730, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $692 a month.
What is the weather like in Osage?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 6.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 39.6 inches of snow.
Does Osage get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osage since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1965. 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)