The Town FilesWapello, Iowa
City in Louisa County · population 2,084 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,900
- Household income
- $72,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 49.6
Wapello is a city of 2,084 people in Louisa County, Iowa. The median home is worth $143,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of Iowa towns, easier by car than 80% of Iowa towns.
How Wapello 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 Wapello is worth $143,900, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $72,708, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 68.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wapello | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,900 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $711 | $820 |
| Median household income | $72,708 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 68.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wapello
| People | Wapello | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Wapello
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.5 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 122 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wapello since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2007 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 3, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Louisa County since 1996
Louisa 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 27, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1763: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Louisa County
Louisa County had 3,891 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,348 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Wapello itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Wapello
3 public schools with 509 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wapello Elementary School | PK-5 | 230 | 11.5 |
| Wapello Senior High School | 9-12 | 179 | 11.9 |
| Wapello Junior High School | 6-8 | 100 | 20.0 |
Towns near Wapello
- Morning Sun, IA6.6 mi · 752 people · home $102,200
- New Boston, IL9.9 mi · 613 people · home $95,400
- Columbus Junction, IA11.5 mi · 1,830 people · home $125,800
- Mediapolis, IA11.8 mi · 1,688 people · home $179,700
- Fruitland, IA12.2 mi · 963 people · home $217,700
- Winfield, IA13.4 mi · 1,033 people · home $100,000
- Keithsburg, IL14.2 mi · 550 people · home $65,900
- Muscatine, IA17.9 mi · 23,797 people · home $153,600
Wapello questions
Is Wapello, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wapello scores better for retirees than 43% of Iowa towns and quieter than 41%. 31.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Wapello?
The median owner-occupied home in Wapello is valued at $143,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,708, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Wapello?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 35.5 inches of snow.
Does Wapello get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wapello since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2007. 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)