HarperIowaPopPlot, 2021
Harper’s story
154 years in pictures
Census counts: 254 in 1880, 118 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1965 on.
- 1872Harper is settled
HarperIA
A town of 117, settled in 1872.
Photo: PopePompus · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
117
2025 Census estimate · −1.7% since 2020
Typical home
$155K
+12.9% in a year
Household income
$100K
median
Median age
30.3
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Harper a good place to live?
Harper’s median household income is $100,000, above both Iowa’s towns ($69,000) and U.S. towns ($80,000). Among 141 Iowa towns, just 10 have a higher share of households owning their home than Harper. Harper has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
117 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Harper: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Harper, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHarper Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Harper’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereKeokuk County AuditorKeokuk County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code5223152231 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Harper.
Housing
Homes in Harper are worth about $155K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Harper home is worth about $155,000, up 12.9% in a year, 34% below the Iowa typical home.
$155KZillow home value
Typical home value
Harper$155K
Iowa$237K
+12.9%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Harper
Harper has cold winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 13° and about 25 inches of snow falls in a winter.
25″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–34°
Spring39–61°
Summer61–83°
Fall41–63°
Oct 15
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+0.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Harper is
Harper beats the Iowa average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 21% of adults binge drink in Harper, above both the Iowa town median (20%) and the median of U.S. towns (16%). 19% of adults smoke cigarettes in Harper.
| Harper | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
1 better30 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Harper | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 72.2% | 66.6% |
| More smokers | 18.5% | 14.5% |
Keokuk County Health Center
8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
High risk in Harper, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Harper
16pages on Harper
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Harper; the nearest are
Maharishi International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Fairfield24.3 mi$16,530 tuitionIndian Hills Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ottumwa28.4 mi$5,040 in-state tuitionUniversity of IowaUniversity or college · Public · Iowa City33.7 mi$11,283 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Harper residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Harper
City in Iowa, United States
Harper is a city in Keokuk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 118 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 807 ft
- ZIP code
- 52231
Questions about Harper
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Harper, IA a good place to live?
Harper has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.