At a Glance
Median Income
$71,131
$33,542 per capita
Home Value
$128,800
Zillow: $148,120
Median Rent
$707/mo
22.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
17.7%
88.2% high school+
Unemployment
2.4%
2.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.9%
16.2% smoking rate
How Wapello Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Wapello's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Wapello a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.9 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Wapello residents earn a median household income of $71,131 , which is 5% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $33,542. The unemployment rate stands at 2.4% (33% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 2.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 281 business establishments, including 12 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Wapello is $128,800 , 54% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $148,120. Median rent is $707/month, with 22.3% 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 1963.
Education
17.7% of adults in Wapello hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(47% below the national average).
88.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Wapello has an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C).
Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 38.4 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,935
Median Age46.2 yrs
Density1,488/mi²
Male / Female50% / 50%
Foreign Born4.2%
Veterans9.7%
Economy
A
Median Income$71,131
Per Capita$33,542
Unemployment2.4%
Poverty2.9%
County GDP$930M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,007
Housing
A+
Home Value$128,800
Rent$707
Ownership70.2%
Zillow$148,120
Housing Units857
Rent Burden22.3%
Health
Obesity39.9%
Diabetes9.5%
Smoking16.2%
Heart Disease5.4%
Premature Death6,584/100K
Climate
Avg Temp51°F
Rain38.4 in/yr
Elevation579 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+17.7%
High School+88.2%
Graduate+4.1%
School Score4.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 70% / D 29%
Commute22 min
Broadband85.9%
Internet Speed48 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries4
Did You Know?
The median home in Wapello was built in 1963.
The nearest airport is Southeast Iowa Regional (27 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.426 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
29.9% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.