The Town FilesKeokuk, Iowa
City in Lee County · population 9,900 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $104,300
- Household income
- $52,711
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 43.1
Keokuk is a city of 9,900 people in Lee County, Iowa. The median home is worth $104,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Iowa towns, more walkable than 96% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 94% of Iowa towns.
How Keokuk 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 Keokuk is worth $104,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $52,711, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $871 a month. 63.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Keokuk | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $104,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $871 | $820 |
| Median household income | $52,711 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Keokuk
| People | Keokuk | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Keokuk
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 39.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keokuk since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 8, 1999 about 1.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 19, 2013.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| 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 |
| September 12, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4392: Severe Storm And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 13,719 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,333 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Keokuk itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Keokuk
5 public schools with 1,763 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keokuk High School | 9-12 | 594 | 17.0 |
| Hawthorne Elementary School | K-3 | 462 | 11.3 |
| Keokuk Middle School | 6-8 | 366 | 12.6 |
| George Washington Elementary School | 4-5 | 258 | 14.3 |
| Torrence Elementary | PK-PK | 83 | 27.7 |
Towns near Keokuk
- Hamilton, IL2.5 mi · 2,753 people · home $114,100
- Fort Madison, IA14.9 mi · 10,270 people · home $94,200
- Canton, MO20.4 mi · 2,774 people · home $117,900
Keokuk questions
Is Keokuk, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Keokuk scores better for retirees than 9% of Iowa towns and quieter than 8%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Keokuk?
The median owner-occupied home in Keokuk is valued at $104,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,711, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $871 a month.
What is the weather like in Keokuk?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.8 inches of precipitation a year and 21.9 inches of snow.
Does Keokuk get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Keokuk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 8, 1999. 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)