The Town FilesVinton, Iowa
City in Benton County · population 4,938 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,300
- Household income
- $66,495
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 44.7
Vinton is a city of 4,938 people in Benton County, Iowa. The median home is worth $152,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks hipper than 97% of Iowa towns, better transit than 93% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Vinton 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 Vinton is worth $152,300, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $66,495, which is more affordable than 48% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $942 a month. 79.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vinton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $942 | $820 |
| Median household income | $66,495 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1949 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Vinton
| People | Vinton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Vinton
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.6 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vinton since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 26, 1965 about 7.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 28 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 8, 1988.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| 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 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 31, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4135: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 6,069 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,216 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Vinton itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Vinton
3 public schools with 1,301 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tilford Elementary School | PK-4 | 558 | 14.0 |
| Vinton-Shellsburg High School | 9-12 | 406 | 13.1 |
| Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School | 6-8 | 337 | 16.9 |
Towns near Vinton
- Center Point, IA12.7 mi · 2,579 people · home $212,400
- Hiawatha, IA18.8 mi · 7,183 people · home $216,900
- Robins, IA19.0 mi · 3,353 people · home $413,400
- Fairfax, IA20.8 mi · 2,828 people · home $274,500
- Independence, IA21.6 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Jesup, IA21.6 mi · 2,508 people · home $190,200
- Cedar Rapids, IA22.5 mi · 137,710 people · home $187,100
- Marion, IA24.0 mi · 41,535 people · home $241,700
Vinton questions
Is Vinton, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vinton scores better for retirees than 76% of Iowa towns and quieter than 32%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Vinton?
The median owner-occupied home in Vinton is valued at $152,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,495, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $942 a month.
What is the weather like in Vinton?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 33.6 inches of snow.
Does Vinton get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vinton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 26, 1965. 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)