Dibble House · National Register of Historic Places
Eldon’s story
Eldon in pictures
4 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
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EldonIA
A town of 726. A typical home worth about $115K.
Photo: formulanone from Huntsville, United States · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
726
−15.5% since 2010
Typical home
$115K
+1.1% in a year
Household income
$48K
median
Median age
42.1
years
Jobs based here
62
A commuter town
What makes Eldon stand out
The thing Eldon does most differently from other towns.
Small town
726 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Eldon’s report card
Now in Eldon
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Weather
Forecast →61°
Cloudy
H 0° · L 56°
Local news
All →- Seymour vs Twin Cedars - Girls Varsity Volleyball 09/24/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 23
- Cardinal vs LMHS - Girls Varsity Volleyball 09/19/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 18
- Cardinal vs Van Buren - Boys Junior Varsity Football 09/14/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 14
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Eldon. Another town gets a different order.
Housing
A typical Eldon home is worth about $115K
The typical Eldon home is worth about $115,000, up 1.1% in a year, 52% below the Iowa typical home.
$115KZillow home value
Typical home value
Eldon$115K
Iowa$240K
+1.1%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Eldon
Most working residents leave Eldon for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Ottumwa (31%), Fairfield (8%) and Des Moines (4%). Half commute less than 17 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Eldon1%
Ottumwa31%
Fairfield8%
Des Moines4%
Oskaloosa3%
17 mi
median commute distance
62
jobs based in Eldon
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Natural hazards
High risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 74% of U.S. communities.
74risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
9
paid flood claims since 1993
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Eldon has cold winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 24 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
24″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–35°
Spring40–61°
Summer63–83°
Fall42–63°
Oct 22
typical first frost
Apr 16
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
How healthy Eldon is
Eldon beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2.
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better29 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Eldon | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81% | 77.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.1% | 8.7% |
Ottumwa Regional Health Center
11.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Eldon for work
Where Eldon’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
62jobs based in Eldon
1%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Landmarks
4 places in Eldon on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Eldon
City in Iowa, USA
Eldon is a city in Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 783 at the time of the 2020 census. It is the home of the small Carpenter Gothic style house that served as the backdrop for Grant Wood's 1930 painting, American Gothic. Eldon got its start in the year 1870, following construction of the Keokuk and Des Moines Railway through the territory. It was incorporated in 1872. Roseanne Barr and Tom Arnold, who was born in nearby Ottumwa, operated Roseanne and Tom's Big Food Diner in Eldon from 1993 to 1995. Eldon is also the home of the Wapello County Fair which began in 1868.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 783
- Area
- 1.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 620 ft
- ZIP code
- 52554
More about Eldon
Still missing for Eldon:archive photosupcoming events