At a Glance
Median Income
$56,000
$38,070 per capita
Home Value
$76,200
Zillow: $136,899
Median Rent
$729/mo
18.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
6.6%
88.6% high school+
Unemployment
2.5%
7.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.0%
17.4% smoking rate
How Beacon Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Beacon's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Beacon a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Beacon residents earn a median household income of $56,000 , which is 25% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $38,070. The unemployment rate stands at 2.5% (31% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 625 business establishments, including 44 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Beacon is $76,200 , 73% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $136,899. Median rent is $729/month, with 18.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1978.
Education
6.6% of adults in Beacon hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(80% below the national average).
88.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Beacon has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.7 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population497
Median Age40.4 yrs
Density637/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born1.6%
Veterans9.1%
Economy
B+
Median Income$56,000
Per Capita$38,070
Unemployment2.5%
Poverty7.3%
County GDP$1,192M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,067
Housing
A+
Home Value$76,200
Rent$729
Ownership86.2%
Zillow$136,899
Housing Units210
Rent Burden18.3%
Health
Obesity38.0%
Diabetes9.3%
Smoking17.4%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death7,887/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Rain38.7 in/yr
Elevation744 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+6.6%
High School+88.6%
Graduate+0.9%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 75% / D 24%
Commute28 min
Broadband79.4%
Internet Speed114 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Beacon was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Ottumwa Regional (17 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.426 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
11.9% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 114 Mbps.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.