The Town Files

Wapello County, Iowa

35,362 people. The median home is worth $125,100 (typical Iowa town: $156,300) and the median household earns $64,766.

Towns in Wapello County

Towns in Wapello County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Ottumwa25,529$106,300$61,10336.7

People and housing

Wapello CountyTypical Iowa town
Median home value$125,100$156,300
Median rent$920$820
Median household income$64,766$69,254
Median age39.240.2
Bachelor's degree or higher19.6%21.8%
Below the poverty line15.8%9.3%

Jobs and pay

15,384 jobs in 2024, average pay $53,071 a year.

Largest industries in Wapello CountyManufacturing3,722 jobs · $75,516Retail2,066 jobs · $33,559Health care & social assistan…2,049 jobs · $54,006Hotels & restaurants1,204 jobs · $17,080Transportation & warehousing646 jobs · $55,495Construction586 jobs · $68,428
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Wapello County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 3.5%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 662 storm events in Wapello County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Wapello County by type since 1996Hail108Flood82Drought35Tornado12Blizzard10High Wind21Ice Storm16Heavy Rain76Heavy Snow17Flash Flood37
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Wapello County has been included in 20 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 23, 2020BiologicalDR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3480: Covid-19
March 23, 2019FloodDR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 2, 2013Severe StormDR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
May 31, 2013FloodDR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
July 29, 2010Severe StormDR-1930: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).