The Town FilesKeota, Iowa
City in Keokuk County · population 897 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $106,600
- Household income
- $64,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 38.6
Keota is a city of 897 people in Keokuk County, Iowa. The median home is worth $106,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks quieter than 74% of Iowa towns, better for families than 73% of Iowa towns.
How Keota 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 Keota is worth $106,600, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $64,188, which is more affordable than 88% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $776 a month. 90.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Keota | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,600 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $776 | $820 |
| Median household income | $64,188 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 90.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Keota
| People | Keota | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.9% | 88.5% |
Weather in Keota
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 11.5°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.1 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keota since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 31, 2023 about 0.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Keokuk County since 1996
Keokuk County has been included in 19 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 |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 2, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4126: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Keokuk County
Keokuk County had 2,292 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,453 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Keota itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Keota
2 public schools with 304 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keota Elementary School | PK-6 | 166 | 11.9 |
| Keota High School | 7-12 | 138 | 12.5 |
Towns near Keota
- Wellman, IA9.4 mi · 1,524 people · home $174,500
- North English, IA12.3 mi · 1,065 people · home $118,600
- Richland, IA12.6 mi · 542 people · home $135,700
- Sigourney, IA13.2 mi · 2,004 people · home $136,800
- Washington, IA14.2 mi · 7,352 people · home $152,300
- Brighton, IA14.8 mi · 600 people · home $92,900
- Kalona, IA15.5 mi · 2,630 people · home $257,900
- What Cheer, IA21.1 mi · 607 people · home $49,200
Keota questions
Is Keota, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Keota scores better for retirees than 61% of Iowa towns and quieter than 74%. 25.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.6).
How much does a house cost in Keota?
The median owner-occupied home in Keota is valued at $106,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,188, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $776 a month.
What is the weather like in Keota?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 11.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 28.1 inches of snow.
Does Keota get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keota since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on March 31, 2023. 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)