The Town FilesWebster City, Iowa
City in Hamilton County · population 7,825 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $127,200
- Household income
- $63,430
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 35
- Median age
- 37.6
Webster City is a city of 7,825 people in Hamilton County, Iowa. The median home is worth $127,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 86% of Iowa towns, hipper than 82% of Iowa towns.
How Webster City 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 Webster City is worth $127,200, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $63,430, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $907 a month. 64.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Webster City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $127,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $907 | $820 |
| Median household income | $63,430 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Webster City
| People | Webster City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 18.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Webster City
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 6.9°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Webster City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on December 15, 2021 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 4, 2020.
Severe weather in Hamilton County since 1996
Hamilton County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Hamilton County
Hamilton County had 5,798 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,922 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Webster City itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Webster City
4 public schools with 1,501 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster City High School | 9-12 | 553 | 17.3 |
| Webster City Middle School | 5-8 | 436 | 14.1 |
| Sunset Heights Elementary School | 2-4 | 303 | 13.2 |
| Pleasant View Elementary School | PK-1 | 209 | 13.1 |
Towns near Webster City
- Eagle Grove, IA14.7 mi · 3,601 people · home $104,600
- Fort Dodge, IA18.5 mi · 24,871 people · home $144,100
- Clarion, IA19.2 mi · 2,810 people · home $116,200
- Story City, IA22.5 mi · 3,352 people · home $215,600
- Humboldt, IA27.4 mi · 4,792 people · home $173,600
- Iowa Falls, IA28.3 mi · 5,106 people · home $123,800
- Boone, IA28.7 mi · 12,460 people · home $173,000
Webster City questions
Is Webster City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Webster City scores better for retirees than 75% of Iowa towns and quieter than 32%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Webster City?
The median owner-occupied home in Webster City is valued at $127,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,430, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $907 a month.
What is the weather like in Webster City?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 6.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 32.9 inches of snow.
Does Webster City get tornadoes?
35 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Webster City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on December 15, 2021. 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)