The Town FilesJesup, Iowa
City in Buchanan County · population 2,508 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $190,200
- Household income
- $89,408
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 34.3
Jesup is a city of 2,508 people in Buchanan County, Iowa. The median home is worth $190,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Iowa towns, better for families than 89% of Iowa towns, better transit than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Jesup ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Jesup is worth $190,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $89,408, which is more affordable than 62% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $933 a month. 78.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jesup | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $190,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $933 | $820 |
| Median household income | $89,408 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jesup
| People | Jesup | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 28.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 88.5% |
Weather in Jesup
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jesup since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 25, 2008 about 9.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 67 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 28, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on April 14, 2026.
Severe weather in Buchanan County since 1996
Buchanan County has been included in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 20, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4386: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4334: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Buchanan County
Buchanan County had 6,619 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,047 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Jesup itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Jesup
3 public schools with 961 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesup Elementary School | PK-4 | 430 | 17.9 |
| Jesup High School | 9-12 | 288 | 14.4 |
| Jesup Middle School | 5-8 | 243 | 17.4 |
Towns near Jesup
- Independence, IA8.3 mi · 6,064 people · home $165,300
- Evansdale, IA10.4 mi · 4,561 people · home $150,300
- Waterloo, IA14.6 mi · 67,314 people · home $152,600
- Oelwein, IA15.7 mi · 5,920 people · home $96,300
- Hudson, IA19.8 mi · 2,546 people · home $242,700
- Cedar Falls, IA20.0 mi · 40,713 people · home $263,600
- Vinton, IA21.6 mi · 4,938 people · home $152,300
- Center Point, IA24.8 mi · 2,579 people · home $212,400
Jesup questions
Is Jesup, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jesup scores better for retirees than 13% of Iowa towns and quieter than 63%. 14.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Jesup?
The median owner-occupied home in Jesup is valued at $190,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,408, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $933 a month.
What is the weather like in Jesup?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 35.7 inches of snow.
Does Jesup get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jesup since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 25, 2008. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)