The Town FilesJefferson, Iowa
City in Greene County · population 4,182 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,800
- Household income
- $58,895
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 53.6
Jefferson is a city of 4,182 people in Greene County, Iowa. The median home is worth $155,800, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Iowa towns, hipper than 85% of Iowa towns, quieter than 74% of Iowa towns.
How Jefferson 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 Jefferson is worth $155,800, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $58,895, which is more affordable than 30% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $754 a month. 74.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $754 | $820 |
| Median household income | $58,895 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 74.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson
| People | Jefferson | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Jefferson
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 9.1°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 27, 1995 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 13, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 30, 2014.
Severe weather in Greene County since 1996
Greene County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Greene County
Greene County had 3,206 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,866 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Jefferson itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Jefferson
3 public schools with 1,255 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County Elementary | PK-4 | 523 | 14.1 |
| Greene County High School | 9-12 | 375 | 12.5 |
| Greene County Middle School | 5-8 | 357 | 14.9 |
Towns near Jefferson
- Perry, IA19.3 mi · 7,836 people · home $121,400
- Carroll, IA25.2 mi · 10,321 people · home $188,700
- Boone, IA26.1 mi · 12,460 people · home $173,000
Jefferson questions
Is Jefferson, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson scores better for retirees than 63% of Iowa towns and quieter than 74%. 31.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.6).
How much does a house cost in Jefferson?
The median owner-occupied home in Jefferson is valued at $155,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,895, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $754 a month.
What is the weather like in Jefferson?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 9.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 31.7 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 27, 1995. 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)