The Town FilesOsceola, Iowa
City in Clarke County · population 5,415 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $146,300
- Household income
- $68,284
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 37.6
Osceola is a city of 5,415 people in Clarke County, Iowa. The median home is worth $146,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 90% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 86% of Iowa towns.
How Osceola 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 Osceola is worth $146,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $68,284, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $943 a month. 61.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Osceola | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $943 | $820 |
| Median household income | $68,284 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Osceola
| People | Osceola | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Osceola
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osceola since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 26, 2024 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Clarke County since 1996
Clarke County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4779: Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4181: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Clarke County
Clarke County had 4,701 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,976 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Osceola itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Osceola
3 public schools with 1,324 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke Community Elementary School | PK-5 | 631 | 11.7 |
| Clarke Community High School | 9-12 | 424 | 14.6 |
| Clarke Community Middle School | 6-8 | 269 | 12.8 |
Towns near Osceola
- Winterset, IA24.4 mi · 5,353 people · home $192,500
- Chariton, IA24.9 mi · 4,193 people · home $81,900
- Indianola, IA25.4 mi · 15,833 people · home $237,500
Osceola questions
Is Osceola, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Osceola scores better for retirees than 3% of Iowa towns and quieter than 12%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Osceola?
The median owner-occupied home in Osceola is valued at $146,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,284, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $943 a month.
What is the weather like in Osceola?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does Osceola get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Osceola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 26, 2024. 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)