The town that has most recently been named the poorest in Iowa is Oelwein, a small city in Fayette County in eastern Iowa. Multiple recent analyses of 2022 U.S. Census data rank Oelwein as the state’s poorest town among communities with populations between about 1,000 and 25,000.
Why Oelwein Is Called Iowa’s Poorest Town
Oelwein, with roughly 5,900 residents, has a median household income of about $41,629, which is well below Iowa’s statewide median of roughly $70,571. Its poverty rate is around 17–17.5%, meaning more than one in six residents lives below the federal poverty line.
The town also lags behind the state in education and home value: only about 13.7% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, and the median home value sits near $97,000, compared with the state‑wide median of about $181,600.
How It Fits Into Iowa’s Broader Poverty Picture
While Oelwein tops recent “poorest town” lists, other Iowa communities—such as Centerville, Keokuk, and Ottumwa—also face high poverty rates and low median incomes. These places often struggle with shrinking or stagnant populations, limited job opportunities, and infrastructure constraints, which keep incomes low even as the statewide economy grows.
Oelwein’s designation as Iowa’s poorest town highlights how economic hardship can be concentrated in smaller, rural communities, even within a state that overall has a relatively stable economy.
SOURCES :
- https://khak.com/eastern-iowa-is-home-to-the-poorest-city-town-in-the-state/
- https://stacker.com/stories/iowa/cities-iowa-most-living-poverty
