The Town FilesPella, Iowa
City in Marion County · population 10,464 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $292,700
- Household income
- $84,111
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 35.2
Pella is a city of 10,464 people in Marion County, Iowa. The median home is worth $292,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 95% of Iowa towns, better for cycling than 92% of Iowa towns, more upscale than 91% of Iowa towns.
How Pella 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 Pella is worth $292,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $84,111, which is more affordable than 3% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,046 a month. 62.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pella | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $292,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,046 | $820 |
| Median household income | $84,111 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Pella
| People | Pella | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 13.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Pella
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 37.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pella since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 19, 2018 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 7, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on June 20, 2015.
Severe weather in Marion County since 1996
Marion County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| September 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4392: Severe Storm And Tornadoes |
| July 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| May 31, 2013 | Flood | DR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Marion County
Marion County had 19,680 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,553 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Pella itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Pella
5 public schools with 2,476 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pella High School | 9-12 | 791 | 17.2 |
| Jefferson Intermediate | 4-6 | 502 | 15.2 |
| Madison Elementary School | PK-3 | 486 | 14.3 |
| Pella Middle School | 7-8 | 363 | 16.5 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | PK-3 | 334 | 14.5 |
Towns near Pella
- Knoxville, IA11.3 mi · 7,595 people · home $160,300
- Oskaloosa, IA16.3 mi · 11,558 people · home $153,300
- Newton, IA21.1 mi · 15,760 people · home $153,700
- Grinnell, IA24.9 mi · 9,564 people · home $209,500
- Albia, IA26.8 mi · 3,721 people · home $130,300
Pella questions
Is Pella, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pella scores better for retirees than 66% of Iowa towns and quieter than 10%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Pella?
The median owner-occupied home in Pella is valued at $292,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,111, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,046 a month.
What is the weather like in Pella?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.5 inches of precipitation a year and 29.9 inches of snow.
Does Pella get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pella since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 19, 2018. 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)