The Town FilesEldon, Iowa
City in Wapello County · population 783 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $60,600
- Household income
- $47,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 42.1
Eldon is a city of 783 people in Wapello County, Iowa. The median home is worth $60,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 94% of Iowa towns.
How Eldon 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 Eldon is worth $60,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $47,917, which is more affordable than 96% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $692 a month. 81.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eldon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $60,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $692 | $820 |
| Median household income | $47,917 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.0% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Eldon
| People | Eldon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.9% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Eldon
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 13.6°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eldon since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 10, 2003.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 17, 2006.
Severe weather in Wapello County since 1996
Wapello County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 31, 2013 | Flood | DR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wapello County
Wapello County had 15,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,071 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Eldon itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Eldon
3 public schools with 1,107 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Elementary | PK-4 | 529 | 15.6 |
| Cardinal Junior High | 5-8 | 301 | 16.7 |
| Cardinal High School | 9-12 | 277 | 12.6 |
Towns near Eldon
- Agency, IA7.2 mi · 620 people · home $157,300
- Ottumwa, IA12.9 mi · 25,529 people · home $106,300
- Fairfield, IA14.5 mi · 9,416 people · home $156,000
- Bloomfield, IA15.6 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
- Hedrick, IA18.1 mi · 728 people · home $79,600
- Keosauqua, IA18.5 mi · 936 people · home $98,500
- Richland, IA21.9 mi · 542 people · home $135,700
- Fremont, IA23.2 mi · 708 people · home $104,900
Eldon questions
Is Eldon, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eldon scores better for retirees than 21% of Iowa towns and quieter than 94%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Eldon?
The median owner-occupied home in Eldon is valued at $60,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,917, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $692 a month.
What is the weather like in Eldon?
July highs average 84.2°F and January lows 13.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 23.1 inches of snow.
Does Eldon get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eldon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1999. 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)