The Town FilesTipton, Iowa
City in Cedar County · population 3,149 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,500
- Household income
- $61,115
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 38.3
Tipton is a city of 3,149 people in Cedar County, Iowa. The median home is worth $165,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 80% of Iowa towns, better transit than 74% of Iowa towns.
How Tipton 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 Tipton is worth $165,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $61,115, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $845 a month. 72.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tipton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $845 | $820 |
| Median household income | $61,115 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.2% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.2% | — |
Who lives in Tipton
| People | Tipton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Tipton
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.4 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tipton since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 15, 1998 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 10, 1962.
Severe weather in Cedar County since 1996
Cedar County has been included in 18 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 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Cedar County
Cedar County had 5,170 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,261 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Tipton itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Public schools in Tipton
3 public schools with 894 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tipton Elementary School | PK-4 | 315 | 12.6 |
| Tipton High School | 9-12 | 312 | 17.3 |
| Tipton Middle School | 5-8 | 267 | 13.4 |
Towns near Tipton
- West Branch, IA13.3 mi · 2,509 people · home $216,100
- Wilton, IA13.6 mi · 2,924 people · home $189,200
- West Liberty, IA15.3 mi · 3,858 people · home $180,000
- Mount Vernon, IA18.6 mi · 4,527 people · home $245,200
- Solon, IA19.3 mi · 3,018 people · home $309,400
- Iowa City, IA22.2 mi · 74,828 people · home $285,900
- Muscatine, IA24.5 mi · 23,797 people · home $153,600
- Anamosa, IA24.6 mi · 5,450 people · home $172,600
Tipton questions
Is Tipton, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tipton scores better for retirees than 55% of Iowa towns and quieter than 42%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Tipton?
The median owner-occupied home in Tipton is valued at $165,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,115, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $845 a month.
What is the weather like in Tipton?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 35.4 inches of snow.
Does Tipton get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tipton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 15, 1998. 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)