Wapello is a city in and the county seat of Louisa County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,084 at the time of the 2020 census. Wapello is part of the Muscatine Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code52653

Area code319

Living in Wapello

Housing in Wapello

$148K▲ 1.2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Wapello home is worth about $148,000, up 1.2% in a year, 38% below the Iowa typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Wapello

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Wapello for work: only 16% work in town. The top destinations are Muscatine (12%), Burlington (4%) and Mediapolis (4%). Half commute less than 20 miles.

Muscatine

12%

Burlington

Mediapolis

Mount Pleasant

16%Work in townlive and work in Wapello 20 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 612Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Wapello →

Health in Wapello

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 47% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Iowa

1worse than IA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 31 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▼ 11 close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

10%More adults who have had cancerIA 8.7% · worse

Care nearby

Trinity MuscatineMuscatine · 19.1 mi · ER

Chc/Seia Louisa County ClinicColumbus City · 11 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Wapello · CMS · HRSAHealth in Wapello →

Natural hazards in Wapello

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 67% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind🌪️ Tornadoes

6Does Wapello flood?paid flood claims since 1993 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Wapello

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Wapello →

Climate in Wapello

Full climate →

Wapello has cold, snowy winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 36 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

35° / 18°Winter

62° / 40°Spring

84° / 63°Summer

64° / 42°Fall

How much snow does Wapello get?About 36 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 24, with the last in spring around Apr 14.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Wapello →

Schools in Wapello

All Wapello schools →

School Grade D

The public schools Wapello’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 94% of Iowa’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictWapello Comm School DistrictSchools3

Wapello Elementary School CElementary · Grades PK–5 · 229 students Wapello Junior High School DMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 102 students Wapello Senior High School C-High · Grades 9–12 · 187 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within IA. Ratings are from neighbors.