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Cambridge, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Polk County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
948 Population 707/sq mi density
$74,531 Median Income $32,347 per capita
$172,800 Home Value $319,451 Zillow
$1,080 Median Rent 22.9% income on rent
48°F Avg Temperature 275 sunny days/yr
120 Violent Crime/100K 1,787 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.3 / 5.0
$74,531 median income, 2.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$172,800 home value, $1,080/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
120 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.4 / 5.0
18.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Cambridge experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 38.1 inches. The area receives 27.3 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

19°F Jan (-7°C) 73°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average48.0°F
11% below US avg
January Average19°F (-7°C)
July Average73°F (23°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation871 ft (265 m)
Area1.1 sq mi (2.8 km²)
Population Density707/sq mi
Coordinates41.9017°N, 93.5366°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyPolk County County
Nearest AirportDes Moines International (DSM)
29 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 38.1"
0% below US avg
Snowfall 27.3"
Wettest Month (Jun) 4.96"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.83"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0449 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)10.2 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.4 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score92.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability17.0 / 100
Community Resilience91.2 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively High
Strong Wind Very High
Heat Wave Relatively High
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively High
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Tornado History

727 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 27 fatalities, 462 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 25, 2008 EF5 90 km 9
Jun 13, 1976 EF5 28 km 0
Mar 5, 2022 EF4 93 km 6
May 27, 1995 EF4 93 km 0
May 30, 1989 EF4 52 km 0
May 24, 1989 EF4 43 km 0
Sep 28, 1986 EF4 18 km 0
May 4, 1977 EF4 86 km 0
Jun 18, 1974 EF4 20 km 2
Jun 8, 1967 EF4 87 km 0
May 5, 1965 EF4 89 km 0
Aug 20, 2019 EF3 72 km 0
Jul 19, 2018 EF3 70 km 0
Jul 19, 2018 EF3 47 km 0
Jun 22, 2015 EF3 89 km 0
Nov 12, 2005 EF3 54 km 1
Apr 8, 1999 EF3 93 km 0
Mar 22, 1991 EF3 8 km 0
Jun 28, 1990 EF3 86 km 0
Mar 13, 1990 EF3 19 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

2 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: NEAL SMITH WUI 2016 1 (1,050 ac, 2016).

Year Name Acres Distance
2016 NEAL SMITH WUI 2016 1 1,050 41 km
2011 IRCP WUI ROFAE #2 FY11 510 100 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 19°F (-7°C) 0.8 in Coldest, Driest
February 24°F (-4°C) 1.0 in
March 37°F (3°C) 2.2 in
April 50°F (10°C) 3.4 in
May 61°F (16°C) 4.3 in
June 70°F (21°C) 5.0 in Wettest
July 73°F (23°C) 4.1 in Warmest
August 72°F (22°C) 4.1 in
September 64°F (18°C) 3.4 in
October 52°F (11°C) 2.6 in
November 36°F (2°C) 1.7 in
December 23°F (-5°C) 1.2 in

Cambridge has a seasonal temperature swing of 54°F / from 19°F in January to 73°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 33.8 inches, with June being the wettest month (5.0") and January the driest (0.8").

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