Story County
IA · Pop. 98,592 · Mixed County
Story County sits in Iowa across 573 square miles, home to 98,592 people at 172.1 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. The median home price is $244,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.47%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 164-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.4°F and average winter lows of 12.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 36.5 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Story County Hospital North is 1.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.2% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 98.2% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Story County Hospital North, with an emergency room, is just 1.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- A low unemployment rate of 2.9% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A 164-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.47% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
At a glance
Story County, IA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 32/100
- Median home price
- $244k
- Property tax
- 1.47%
- Growing season
- 164 days (zone 5b)
- Annual rainfall
- 36.5"
- Broadband
- 98.2%
- Nearest hospital
- Story County Hospital North, 1.6 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Story County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Story County?
- Story County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 164-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.4°F, and average winter lows of 12.7°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $244,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.47%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 98.2% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Story County Hospital North is 1.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 3 hospitals in the county.
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More counties in Iowa
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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