The Town FilesBellevue, Iowa
City in Jackson County · population 2,363 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $216,500
- Household income
- $79,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.2
Bellevue is a city of 2,363 people in Jackson County, Iowa. The median home is worth $216,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Iowa towns, better transit than 79% of Iowa towns, better for families than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Bellevue ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bellevue is worth $216,500, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $79,417, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $843 a month. 79.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bellevue | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $216,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $843 | $820 |
| Median household income | $79,417 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Bellevue
| People | Bellevue | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 88.5% |
Weather in Bellevue
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 12.1°F. About 37.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bellevue since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 11, 2025 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 20, 2014.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 5,869 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,236 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Bellevue itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Bellevue
2 public schools with 790 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue Elementary School | PK-5 | 426 | 15.8 |
| Bellevue High School | 6-12 | 364 | 15.8 |
Towns near Bellevue
- Hanover, IL8.1 mi · 863 people · home $89,500
- The Galena Territory, IL10.7 mi · 1,500 people · home $324,700
- Galena, IL11.2 mi · 3,308 people · home $233,200
- Elizabeth, IL11.4 mi · 694 people · home $135,900
- Preston, IA14.6 mi · 949 people · home $163,900
- Maquoketa, IA18.2 mi · 6,128 people · home $132,500
- Sabula, IA18.3 mi · 506 people · home $133,300
- Apple Canyon Lake, IL18.4 mi · 574 people · home $329,400
Bellevue questions
Is Bellevue, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bellevue scores better for retirees than 64% of Iowa towns and quieter than 57%. 25.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Bellevue?
The median owner-occupied home in Bellevue is valued at $216,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,417, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $843 a month.
What is the weather like in Bellevue?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 12.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.8 inches of precipitation a year and 31.9 inches of snow.
Does Bellevue get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bellevue since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 11, 2025. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)