The Town FilesTama, Iowa
City in Tama County · population 3,130 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,800
- Household income
- $68,661
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.2
Tama is a city of 3,130 people in Tama County, Iowa. The median home is worth $106,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 82% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 72% of Iowa towns.
How Tama 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 Tama is worth $106,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $68,661, which is more affordable than 91% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $832 a month. 74.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tama | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $832 | $820 |
| Median household income | $68,661 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Tama
| People | Tama | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Tama
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.4°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tama since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 19, 1966 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 3.75 inches on August 16, 1987.
Severe weather in Tama County since 1996
Tama County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Tama County
Tama County had 5,356 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,774 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Tama itself the ACS puts it at 7.5%.
Public schools in Tama
2 public schools with 991 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Tama County Elementary School | PK-4 | 543 | 13.9 |
| South Tama County High School | 9-12 | 448 | 16.6 |
Towns near Tama
- Grinnell, IA17.7 mi · 9,564 people · home $209,500
- Marshalltown, IA17.7 mi · 27,591 people · home $127,700
- Grundy Center, IA29.4 mi · 2,796 people · home $177,900
Tama questions
Is Tama, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tama scores better for retirees than 3% of Iowa towns and quieter than 9%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Tama?
The median owner-occupied home in Tama is valued at $106,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,661, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $832 a month.
What is the weather like in Tama?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 9.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 32.8 inches of snow.
Does Tama get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tama since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 19, 1966. 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)