Jefferson County
IA · Pop. 15,676 · Suburban County
Jefferson County, Iowa covers 436 square miles with a population of 15,676 and a density of 36 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on corn, soybeans, hay. A median home price of $161,000 and an effective property tax rate of 1.49% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 175-day growing season, average summer highs of 85°F and average winter lows of 18.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 38.1 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Jefferson County Hospital Cah is 1.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.3% of homes. On the hazard side, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $161,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 95.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Jefferson County Hospital Cah, with an emergency room, is just 1.4 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.6% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- An effective property tax rate of 1.49% is on the higher side and adds to annual carrying costs.
- Wildfire risk is high, so defensible space and fire preparedness should be part of any build plan.
At a glance
Jefferson County, IA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 64/100
- Median home price
- $161k
- Property tax
- 1.49%
- Growing season
- 175 days (zone 5b)
- Annual rainfall
- 38.1"
- Broadband
- 95.3%
- Nearest hospital
- Jefferson County Hospital Cah, 1.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Jefferson County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Jefferson County?
- Jefferson County is in USDA hardiness zone 5b with a 175-day growing season, average summer highs of 85°F, and average winter lows of 18.4°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $161,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.49%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 95.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Jefferson County Hospital Cah is 1.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Iowa
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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