The Town FilesMediapolis, Iowa
City in Des Moines County · population 1,688 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $179,700
- Household income
- $75,543
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 35.3
Mediapolis is a city of 1,688 people in Des Moines County, Iowa. The median home is worth $179,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Iowa towns.
How Mediapolis 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 Mediapolis is worth $179,700, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $75,543, which is more affordable than 41% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $1,040 a month. 78.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mediapolis | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $179,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $1,040 | $820 |
| Median household income | $75,543 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mediapolis
| People | Mediapolis | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 88.5% |
Weather in Mediapolis
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mediapolis since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 16, 2024 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 25, 1965.
Severe weather in Des Moines County since 1996
Des Moines County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| 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 Des Moines County
Des Moines County had 19,833 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,718 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Mediapolis itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Mediapolis
3 public schools with 972 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediapolis Elementary School | PK-5 | 429 | 15.3 |
| Mediapolis High School | 9-12 | 318 | 13.3 |
| Mediapolis Middle School | 6-8 | 225 | 25.0 |
Towns near Mediapolis
- Morning Sun, IA7.5 mi · 752 people · home $102,200
- Beaverdale, IA11.2 mi · 880 people · home $170,900
- Wapello, IA11.8 mi · 2,084 people · home $143,900
- Oquawka, IL12.2 mi · 1,134 people · home $92,000
- West Burlington, IA12.9 mi · 3,197 people · home $124,000
- Danville, IA12.9 mi · 927 people · home $158,500
- Keithsburg, IL13.5 mi · 550 people · home $65,900
- New London, IA13.7 mi · 1,910 people · home $139,600
Mediapolis questions
Is Mediapolis, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mediapolis scores better for retirees than 46% of Iowa towns and quieter than 46%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Mediapolis?
The median owner-occupied home in Mediapolis is valued at $179,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,543, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,040 a month.
What is the weather like in Mediapolis?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 23.8 inches of snow.
Does Mediapolis get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mediapolis since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 16, 2024. 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)