The Town FilesSolon, Iowa
City in Johnson County · population 3,018 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,400
- Household income
- $113,295
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 38.8
Solon is a city of 3,018 people in Johnson County, Iowa. The median home is worth $309,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more upscale than 96% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 95% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 94% of Iowa towns.
How Solon 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 Solon is worth $309,400, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $113,295, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,127 a month. 79.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Solon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,400 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,127 | $820 |
| Median household income | $113,295 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1998 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Solon
| People | Solon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Solon
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 35.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Solon since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 31, 2023 about 9.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 2 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 13, 2006.
Severe weather in Johnson County since 1996
Johnson County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Johnson County
Johnson County had 83,750 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,363 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Solon itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Solon
4 public schools with 1,522 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeview Elementary | PK-3 | 498 | 14.6 |
| Solon High School | 9-12 | 489 | 16.3 |
| Solon Middle School | 6-8 | 327 | 14.9 |
| Solon Intermediate | 4-5 | 208 | 20.8 |
Towns near Solon
- North Liberty, IA7.3 mi · 20,479 people · home $303,800
- Mount Vernon, IA8.9 mi · 4,527 people · home $245,200
- Coralville, IA9.0 mi · 22,318 people · home $298,500
- Iowa City, IA10.6 mi · 74,828 people · home $285,900
- Tiffin, IA10.6 mi · 4,512 people · home $338,500
- West Branch, IA12.6 mi · 2,509 people · home $216,100
- Cedar Rapids, IA14.3 mi · 137,710 people · home $187,100
- Fairfax, IA16.5 mi · 2,828 people · home $274,500
Solon questions
Is Solon, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Solon scores better for retirees than 94% of Iowa towns and quieter than 63%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Solon?
The median owner-occupied home in Solon is valued at $309,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $113,295, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,127 a month.
What is the weather like in Solon?
July highs average 85.8°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.7 inches of precipitation a year and 29.2 inches of snow.
Does Solon get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Solon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 31, 2023. 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)