2014 · Jeremiah Wood House · Wikimedia Commons
Sabula’s story
Sabula in pictures
12 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 2 places on the National Register.
SabulaIA
A town of 547. Nearly 79.7% of it is conserved land.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
547
−12.2% since 2010
Typical home
$222K
+5.9% in a year
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
50.9
years
Jobs based here
71
A commuter town
What makes Sabula stand out
The 2 things Sabula does most differently from other towns.
Small town
547 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
SavannaSabula
Sabula’s report card
Now in Sabula
Be the first to start the conversation.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Sabula. Another town gets a different order.
Outdoors
Nearly a third of Sabula is conserved land
0.1 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves.
79.7%conserved
79.7%
conserved · 738 of 926 acres
0.1 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge | — | 36 |
| 2. South Sabula Lake Park | — | 7 |
| 3. Driscoll's Island | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Sabula
Most working residents leave Sabula for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Preston (15%), Clinton (14%) and Maquoketa (5%). Half commute less than 20 miles.
4%work in town
Where working residents work
In Sabula4%
Preston15%
Clinton14%
Maquoketa5%
Davenport5%
20 mi
median commute distance
71
jobs based in Sabula
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
12
paid flood claims since 1993
9
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Sabula has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 33 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
33″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–32°
Spring39–59°
Summer61–82°
Fall41–62°
Oct 26
typical first frost
Apr 13
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Crime reported in Sabula
20 crimes were reported in Sabula in 2025: 18 property and 2 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Sabula is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
18
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
How healthy Sabula is
Sabula beats the Iowa average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 11.
32 measures vs. Iowa
2 better19 too close to call11 worse
| What stands out | Sabula | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 82.9% | 77.8% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 86.9% | 84.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 21.5% | 11.6% |
Mercyone Clinton Medical Center
14.5 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Housing
A typical Sabula home is worth about $222K
The typical Sabula home is worth about $222,000, up 5.9% in a year, 7% below the Iowa typical home.
$222KZillow home value
Typical home value
Sabula$222K
Iowa$240K
+5.9%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Get outside
0 miles of trails in Sabula
79.7% of the town is conserved land, across 4 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Landmarks
2 places in Sabula on the National Register of Historic Places.
About Sabula
City in Iowa, United States
Sabula is a city in Jackson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 506 at the 2020 census. Sabula is the site of Iowa's only island city. The island has a beach and a campground, as well as a harbor with boat docks. Sabula is the northern terminus of U.S. Route 67.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 506
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 591 ft
- ZIP code
- 52070
More about Sabula
Still missing for Sabula:local news coverageupcoming events