Jefferson County, Iowa
Among the top 15% of US counties for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 27% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 56% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 69% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 75% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B+, better than 85% of US counties
- top 5% for commute time
- top 7% for amenities nearby
- bottom 10% for property tax rate
Jefferson County is a county in Iowa with about 16,000 residents. It grades B+ for lifestyle & connectivity and C for affordability. Standout strengths include commute time, amenities nearby, and walkability. It rates lower on estimated total tax burden and property tax rate.
Official websitejeffersoncounty.iowa.gov (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
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77%53%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.3 in1.7 in
humid 93%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$52k26th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 62% of US counties
Home Value$142k39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$838better than 46% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 49% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.61%better than 10% of US counties
Income Tax6.00%better than 21% of US counties
Sales Tax6.94%better than 70% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden12.64%better than 14% of US counties
Unemployment5.2%better than 41% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)23°F18th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation38.4 in39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall23.4 inbetter than 36% of US counties
Sunny Days245 daysbetter than 59% of US counties
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 51% of US counties
Comfortable Days82 daysbetter than 57% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk27.1better than 71% of US counties
School Quality59.2better than 59% of US counties
Violent Crime486/100kbetter than 71% of US counties
Property Crime952/100kbetter than 48% of US counties
Community
Population15,78534th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age44.273rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2648th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.1189th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven18th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)83.2%54th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)4.8%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)3.6%39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)5.9%96th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.5%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time16 minbetter than 95% of US counties
Walkability7.2/20better than 79% of US counties
Airport Distance179 mibetter than 18% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access83.8%better than 53% of US counties
Amenities Nearby14.57better than 93% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 64% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Jefferson County an affordable place to live?
- Jefferson County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 62% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Jefferson County?
- The median home value in Jefferson County is $142k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Jefferson County?
- Median household income in Jefferson County is $52k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Jefferson County?
- Median gross rent in Jefferson County is $838 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Jefferson County safe?
- Jefferson County is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 486/100k (better than 71%). Property crime is 952/100k.
- What is the weather like in Jefferson County?
- Jefferson County averages 75°F in July and 23°F in January, with 38.4 in of annual precipitation and about 245 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Jefferson County?
- Public-school quality in Jefferson County is about average, scoring better than 59% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Jefferson County?
- The average one-way commute in Jefferson County is 16 min.
Other counties in Iowa
Explore Iowa
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)