The Town FilesIola, Kansas
City in Allen County · population 5,396 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $78,300
- Household income
- $54,221
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 32.6
Iola is a city of 5,396 people in Allen County, Kansas. The median home is worth $78,300, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better transit than 94% of Kansas towns, hipper than 93% of Kansas towns, more vibrant than 83% of Kansas towns.
How Iola ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Iola is worth $78,300, below the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $54,221, which is more affordable than 92% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $767 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Iola | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $78,300 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $767 | $815 |
| Median household income | $54,221 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Iola
| People | Iola | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.6 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.6% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Iola
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.4 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 40 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iola since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 20, 1956 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 1, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 112 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on September 13, 2005.
Severe weather in Allen County since 1996
Allen County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 15, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4800: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4747: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Allen County
Allen County had 5,640 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,881 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Iola itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Public schools in Iola
3 public schools with 1,177 students, about 14.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iola Elementary School | PK-5 | 635 | 15.1 |
| Iola Sr High | 9-12 | 322 | 14.6 |
| Iola Middle School | 6-8 | 220 | 11.6 |
Towns near Iola
- Chanute, KS18.2 mi · 8,722 people · home $78,000
- Garnett, KS26.2 mi · 3,242 people · home $149,100
- Burlington, KS26.2 mi · 2,634 people · home $149,300
Iola questions
Is Iola, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Iola scores better for retirees than 12% of Kansas towns and quieter than 17%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.6).
How much does a house cost in Iola?
The median owner-occupied home in Iola is valued at $78,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,221, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $767 a month.
What is the weather like in Iola?
July highs average 88.5°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 7.4 inches of snow.
Does Iola get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iola since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 20, 1956. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- 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)