Sign In Register

Mason City, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Cerro Gordo County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
27,135 Population 962/sq mi density
$62,369 Median Income $36,527 per capita
$130,000 Home Value $152,258 Zillow
$874 Median Rent 24.0% income on rent
46°F Avg Temperature 260 sunny days/yr
652 Violent Crime/100K 2,925 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$62,369 median income, 1.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$130,000 home value, $874/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
652 violent crimes/100K (72% above avg)
C+
Education
2.7 / 5.0
21.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Mason City experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 16°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 36.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

16°F Jan (-9°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average45.6°F
16% below US avg
January Average16°F (-9°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days260 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,106 ft (337 m)
Area28.1 sq mi (72.8 km²)
Population Density962/sq mi
Coordinates43.1486°N, 93.1998°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyCerro Gordo County County
Nearest AirportNortheast Iowa Regional (CCY)
30 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 36.3"
5% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jun) 4.69"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.79"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score69.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability46.3 / 100
Community Resilience92.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

1 earthquake (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M2.8. Most recent: M2.8 on Apr 25, 2017.

Apr 25, 2017 Near Mankato, Minnesota M2.8 132 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

623 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 53 fatalities, 1,035 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 25, 2008 EF5 72 km 9
May 15, 1968 EF5 43 km 13
Oct 14, 1966 EF5 53 km 6
Jun 17, 2010 EF4 59 km 1
May 30, 1989 EF4 97 km 0
Jul 12, 1971 EF4 62 km 0
Apr 30, 1967 EF4 17 km 0
Apr 30, 1967 EF4 50 km 5
Apr 30, 1967 EF4 77 km 6
Apr 30, 1967 EF4 34 km 0
May 5, 1965 EF4 34 km 0
Aug 29, 1964 EF4 88 km 0
Sep 1, 1961 EF4 44 km 0
May 10, 1953 EF4 27 km 0
May 10, 1953 EF4 73 km 2
Jun 12, 2013 EF3 49 km 0
Jun 17, 2010 EF3 79 km 0
Jun 17, 2010 EF3 68 km 0
Jun 17, 2010 EF3 64 km 0
Jun 11, 2004 EF3 60 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 16°F (-9°C) 0.8 in Coldest, Driest
February 21°F (-6°C) 0.8 in
March 33°F (0°C) 1.9 in
April 47°F (8°C) 3.2 in
May 59°F (15°C) 4.0 in
June 69°F (21°C) 4.7 in Wettest
July 72°F (22°C) 4.5 in Warmest
August 70°F (21°C) 4.2 in
September 62°F (17°C) 3.9 in
October 50°F (10°C) 2.5 in
November 33°F (1°C) 1.7 in
December 20°F (-7°C) 1.1 in

Mason City has a seasonal temperature swing of 56°F / from 16°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 33.2 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.7") and January the driest (0.8").

View full weather details →