Rowley, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Buchanan County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
354 Population 908/sq mi density
$60,417 Median Income $32,003 per capita
$135,200 Home Value $266,831 Zillow
$1,016 Median Rent 22.9% income on rent
47°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.0 / 5.0
$60,417 median income, 8.2% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$135,200 home value, $1,016/mo rent
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
19.5% bachelor's degree or higher
Rowley experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 17°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 37.4 inches. The area receives 33.9 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

17°F Jan (-8°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average47.0°F
13% below US avg
January Average17°F (-8°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)

Geography

Elevation985 ft (300 m)
Area0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²)
Population Density908/sq mi
Coordinates42.3685°N, 91.8443°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyBuchanan County County
Nearest AirportWaterloo Regional (ALO)
31 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 37.4"
2% below US avg
Snowfall 33.9"
Wettest Month (Jun) 5.66"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.95"

Air Quality

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score24.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience87.7 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Tornado History

609 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 23 fatalities, 504 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 25, 2008 EF5 87 km 9
May 15, 1968 EF5 34 km 5
Mar 13, 1990 EF4 38 km 0
Aug 12, 1974 EF4 74 km 0
Aug 12, 1974 EF4 30 km 0
Aug 26, 1965 EF4 30 km 1
Apr 11, 1965 EF4 95 km 1
Apr 30, 1954 EF4 31 km 0
May 25, 2008 EF3 30 km 0
May 21, 2004 EF3 36 km 0
May 11, 2000 EF3 53 km 1
Jul 27, 1995 EF3 29 km 0
Jun 19, 1993 EF3 26 km 0
Jun 19, 1993 EF3 93 km 0
Jul 13, 1992 EF3 62 km 0
May 30, 1985 EF3 59 km 2
May 4, 1977 EF3 75 km 0
Nov 9, 1975 EF3 55 km 0
Jul 12, 1971 EF3 28 km 0
Jun 24, 1971 EF3 78 km 1
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950-2024)

Wildfire History

4 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (939 ac, 2009).

Year Name Acres Distance
2009 UNNAMED 939 66 km
2010 FOLEY 786 65 km
2011 ACE AUTO 676 64 km
2011 IRCP WUI ROFAE #2 FY11 510 66 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 17°F (-8°C) 1.0 in Coldest, Driest
February 21°F (-6°C) 1.4 in
March 34°F (1°C) 2.0 in
April 47°F (9°C) 3.6 in
May 59°F (15°C) 4.6 in
June 70°F (21°C) 5.7 in Wettest
July 72°F (22°C) 4.6 in Warmest
August 70°F (21°C) 4.3 in
September 63°F (17°C) 3.5 in
October 50°F (10°C) 3.0 in
November 36°F (2°C) 2.1 in
December 23°F (-5°C) 1.7 in

Rowley has a seasonal temperature swing of 55°F / from 17°F in January to 72°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 37.4 inches, with June being the wettest month (5.7") and January the driest (1.0").

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