The Town FilesKeosauqua, Iowa
City in Van Buren County · population 936 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,500
- Household income
- $51,136
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 23 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 59.8
Keosauqua is a city of 936 people in Van Buren County, Iowa. The median home is worth $98,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 92% of Iowa towns, better transit than 80% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 73% of Iowa towns.
How Keosauqua 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 Keosauqua is worth $98,500, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $51,136, which is more affordable than 76% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $480 a month. 80.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Keosauqua | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,500 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $480 | $820 |
| Median household income | $51,136 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 80.7% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Keosauqua
| People | Keosauqua | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 39.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 11.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.5 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Keosauqua
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keosauqua since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 27, 2019 about 4.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 16 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 13, 2024.
Severe weather in Van Buren County since 1996
Van Buren County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| September 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4392: Severe Storm And Tornadoes |
| May 31, 2013 | Flood | DR-4119: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Van Buren County
Van Buren County had 1,923 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,260 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Keosauqua itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Keosauqua
1 public school with 361 students, about 13.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren County Community Middle & High School | 7-12 | 361 | 13.9 |
Towns near Keosauqua
- Farmington, IA13.4 mi · 579 people · home $81,400
- Eldon, IA18.5 mi · 783 people · home $60,600
- Fairfield, IA18.8 mi · 9,416 people · home $156,000
- Donnellson, IA21.7 mi · 885 people · home $147,800
- Memphis, MO21.9 mi · 1,731 people · home $132,800
- Bloomfield, IA23.9 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
- Kahoka, MO25.0 mi · 1,961 people · home $100,000
- Agency, IA25.6 mi · 620 people · home $157,300
Keosauqua questions
Is Keosauqua, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Keosauqua scores better for retirees than 73% of Iowa towns and quieter than 92%. 39.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.8).
How much does a house cost in Keosauqua?
The median owner-occupied home in Keosauqua is valued at $98,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,136, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $480 a month.
What is the weather like in Keosauqua?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 23.0 inches of snow.
Does Keosauqua get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keosauqua since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 27, 2019. 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)