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Beacon, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Mahaska County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
497 Population 637/sq mi density
$56,000 Median Income $38,070 per capita
$76,200 Home Value $122,561 Zillow
$729 Median Rent 18.3% income on rent
50°F Avg Temperature 275 sunny days/yr
164 Violent Crime/100K 1,604 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.0 / 5.0
$56,000 median income, 1.7% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$76,200 home value, $729/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
164 violent crimes/100K
D
Education
1.5 / 5.0
6.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Beacon experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 38.7 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

22°F Jan (-6°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average50.1°F
7% below US avg
January Average22°F (-6°C)
July Average75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation744 ft (227 m)
Area1.0 sq mi (2.6 km²)
Population Density637/sq mi
Coordinates41.2761°N, 92.6810°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyMahaska County County
Nearest AirportOttumwa Regional (OTM)
17 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 38.7"
2% above US avg
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.41"
Driest Month (Jan) 1.22"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score29.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability23.0 / 100
Community Resilience78.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Tornado History

554 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 16 fatalities, 359 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Mar 31, 2023 EF4 55 km 0
Sep 28, 1986 EF4 93 km 0
Aug 12, 1974 EF4 67 km 0
Jun 18, 1974 EF4 93 km 2
Jan 24, 1967 EF4 98 km 0
May 20, 1959 EF4 75 km 0
May 10, 1953 EF4 71 km 0
Mar 31, 2023 EF3 38 km 0
Mar 5, 2022 EF3 70 km 1
Aug 20, 2019 EF3 71 km 0
May 27, 2019 EF3 89 km 0
Jul 19, 2018 EF3 94 km 0
Jul 19, 2018 EF3 30 km 0
Jun 22, 2015 EF3 39 km 0
Apr 8, 1999 EF3 74 km 0
Apr 8, 1999 EF3 63 km 0
May 15, 1998 EF3 80 km 0
Sep 16, 1978 EF3 88 km 6
May 4, 1977 EF3 92 km 0
May 31, 1971 EF3 97 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

5 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: NEAL SMITH WUI 2016 1 (1,050 ac, 2016).

Year Name Acres Distance
2016 NEAL SMITH WUI 2016 1 1,050 61 km
2009 UNNAMED 939 74 km
2010 FOLEY 786 75 km
2011 ACE AUTO 676 78 km
2011 IRCP WUI ROFAE #2 FY11 510 75 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 22°F (-6°C) 1.2 in Coldest, Driest
February 27°F (-3°C) 1.2 in
March 39°F (4°C) 2.4 in
April 51°F (11°C) 3.7 in
May 62°F (17°C) 4.3 in
June 71°F (22°C) 4.3 in
July 75°F (24°C) 4.4 in Warmest, Wettest
August 73°F (23°C) 3.9 in
September 65°F (18°C) 4.3 in
October 53°F (12°C) 2.8 in
November 39°F (4°C) 2.5 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 1.6 in

Beacon has a seasonal temperature swing of 54°F / from 22°F in January to 75°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 36.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.4") and January the driest (1.2").

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