IAMap-doton-Janesville, 2004
Janesville’s story
177 years in pictures
Census counts: 273 in 1880, 1,034 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1963 on.
- 1849Janesville is settled
JanesvilleIA
A town of 1,052, settled in 1849.
Photo: Billwhittaker (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,052
2025 Census estimate · +1.3% since 2020
Typical home
$315K
+2.6% in a year
Household income
$104K
median
Median age
47.0
years
Jobs based here
377
Balanced
Is Janesville a good place to live?
The best of Janesville’s subject grades are an A− for health, incomes, and cost of living; the weakest is a C for hazard risk. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 4 have a higher share of households owning their home than Janesville. Janesville's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 98% of U.S. towns. Janesville has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Janesville stand out
Where Janesville beats most towns.
32 measures vs. Iowa
15 better16 too close to call1 worse
| Widest gap | Janesville | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.3% | 11.6% |
HealthA−
Healthier than 84% of U.S. towns
Beats IA on 15 of 32 CDC measures, trails it on 1
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
Typical home value
Janesville$315K
Iowa$237K
Cost of livingA−
4.4 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 79% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
Small town
1,052 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Janesville grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Janesville is from typical.
HealthWaverly Health Center 5.5 miles awayA−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →Cost of livingA−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →SchoolsBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.1 of 20; 1.1% of households have no car; 2.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsCOpen →History1 notable person born hereBOpen →Civic life7.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Janesville: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Janesville, and how to reach them.
PowerMidAmerican Energy11.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterJanesville Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Janesville’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 hereBremer County AuditorBremer County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5064750647 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 Janesville.
HealthA−
Compared with most of Iowa and the rest of the country, fewer of Janesville’s adults feel lonely
28% of adults feel lonely in Janesville, against 32% in Iowa’s towns and 33% across U.S. towns. 11% of Janesville adults report frequent physical distress. Only 2 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Janesville.
84%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Janesville | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 32% | 33% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
15 better16 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Janesville | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.3% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 6.9% | 12% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10% | 8.7% |
Waverly Health Center
5.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB
On state tests, Janesville’s schools beat 64% of Iowa districts
Its public schools are run by the Janesville Consolidated School District. Its two schools are below.
64%of IA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 269 | B− |
| Janesville Junior-Senior High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 243 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade A−
Homes in Janesville are worth about $315K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Janesville home is worth about $315,000, up 2.6% in a year, 33% above the Iowa typical home. Janesville’s median rent is $717 a month, where Iowa’s towns sit at $911 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month.
$315KZillow home value
Typical home value
Janesville$315K
Iowa$237K
+2.6%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Iowa overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 48% of residents (37% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 15% of residents (23% statewide). The median age in Janesville is 47 years. 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
47median age · IA 38.6
| Janesville | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 19% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 21% | 23% | 22% |
JanesvilleIowaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
23%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma1%
High school24%
Some college27%
Associate’s19%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate5%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.5 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Janesville | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.6% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.6% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.5% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.9% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.8% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 22.7% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.8% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.7% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.3% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.7% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 26.9% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 19.1% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.3% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 4.6% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,100, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Janesville
Janesville has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 9° and about 39 inches of snow falls in a winter.
39″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter13–30°
Spring36–58°
Summer60–82°
Fall39–61°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 27
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Janesville
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 65% of U.S. communities. Since 1993, 7 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Janesville.
65risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
7
paid flood claims since 1993
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
About one in three of Janesville’s working residents commute to Waterloo
Most working residents leave Janesville for work: only 4% work in town. Janesville’s median household income is $104,000. Since 2013, Janesville has added 85 jobs, to 377 in 2023.
4%work in town
| Janesville | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 3.7% | 31% | 8% |
| Median household income | $104,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Janesville4%
Waterloo33%
Cedar Falls16%
Waverly9%
Denver6%
11 mi
median commute distance
377
jobs based in Janesville
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 38% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsC
Janesville has set aside 0% of its land for conservation
0.0 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves.
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 919 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Barrick Road City Park | — | 8 |
| 2. Road Side Park | — | 2 |
| 3. Beason-Boomer Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 10 attractions →Lost Island Theme Park and 3 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Janesville. Close and well known come first.
16 mi Theme parkLost Island Theme Park
39 mi MuseumCedar Rock State Park
7 mi MuseumCedar Falls Ice House
16 mi GardenCedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens
39 mi MuseumCedar Rock State Park7 mi MuseumCedar Falls Ice House16 mi GardenCedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic GardensSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Cedar Rock State Park: Orange Suede Sofa, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cedar Falls Ice House: RifeIdeas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens: Cedarvalleyarboretum, CC BY-SA 3.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Janesville
19pages on Janesville
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Janesville
Wartburg CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Waverly5.8 mi$26,250 tuitionUniversity of Northern IowaUniversity or college · Public · Cedar Falls9 mi$9,936 in-state tuitionAllen CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Waterloo10.1 mi
About 4 of every 100 Janesville residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Janesville
City in Iowa, US
Janesville is a city in Black Hawk and Bremer counties in the US state of Iowa. The population was 1,034 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Waterloo–Cedar Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1849
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 906 ft
- ZIP code
- 50647
Questions about Janesville
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Janesville, IA expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.