Very AffordableVery SafeWapello Comm School District
Wapello,Iowa · Kyashack / CC BY-SA 4.0Wapello Iowa · Billwhittaker at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Louisa County Courthouse, Wapello · Nyttend / Public domainWapello, Iowa (9181534856) · Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0
Wapello is a small town of 1,861 in Iowa, with a median household income of $68,403
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wapello stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Wapello is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wapello city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 88.3
Wapello's overall cost of living index is 88.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wapello costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wapello, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$117,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$702
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$68,403
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Wapello's violent crime rate is 253.7 per 100,000 residents
— 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
253.7 /100k
Property Crime
235.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wapello is served primarily by Wapello Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Wapello, IA
National Avg
School District
Wapello Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wapello sees average highs of 31.5°F in January
and 86.0°F in July,
with 38.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 35.5 inches of snow per year.
Wapello's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wapello roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $117,700 and median rent is $702/month.
Wapello's violent crime rate is 253.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 235.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wapello are operated by Wapello Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wapello, IA has a population of 1,861, a median household income of $68,403, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Wapello averages 31.5°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.4 inches
with about 35.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Wapello, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52653.
The population of Wapello, Iowa is 1,861 with a median age of 46.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wapello: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $117,700, median household income $68,403, crime index 45 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wapello side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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