Main Street, 2012
Popejoy’s story
146 years in pictures
Census counts: 200 in 1910, 77 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1979 on.
- 1880Popejoy is platted
PopejoyIA
A town of 75, platted in 1880.
Photo: Jamo2008 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
75
2025 Census estimate · −1.3% since 2020
Median home value
$84K
Census ACS
Household income
$39K
median
Median age
39.2
years
Land area
1 sq mi
Is Popejoy a good place to live?
Of the 141 Iowa towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Popejoy. Popejoy has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
75 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 Popejoy: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Popejoy, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Popejoy’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 hereFranklin County AuditorFranklin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes50227, 5000650227 97% · 50006 3%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 Popejoy.
Climate
Popejoy has four seasons and pleasant summers
Popejoy has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. At 83°F, Popejoy’s July high is below both Iowa’s towns (84°F) and U.S. towns (85°F).
30″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–29°
Spring36–57°
Summer59–81°
Fall38–60°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 28
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Popejoy is
Popejoy beats the Iowa average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 22% of adults binge drink in Popejoy, where Iowa’s towns sit at 20% and U.S. towns at 16%. 18% of Popejoy adults smoke cigarettes.
| Popejoy | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 76% | 78% | 79% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better30 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Popejoy | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 18.4% | 11.6% |
| Fewer adults screened for colon cancer | 59.4% | 66.6% |
Hansen Family Hospital
10.4 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Moderate risk in Popejoy, with drought at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 60% of U.S. communities.
40risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingCold waves
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Popejoy
15pages on Popejoy
The big questions
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Popejoy
About 2 of every 100 Popejoy residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Popejoy
City in Iowa, USA
Popejoy is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 77 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,158 ft
- ZIP code
- 50227
Questions about Popejoy
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Popejoy, IA a good place to live?
Popejoy has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.