RathbunIA
A town of 40, settled in 1892.
Is Rathbun a good place to live?
Rathbun’s median age is 61.5 years, above both Iowa’s towns (38.7 years) and U.S. towns (40.5 years). No town among the 141 in Iowa we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Rathbun. Rathbun has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
40 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Rathbun: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Rathbun, and how to reach them.
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 Rathbun.
The climate in Rathbun brings four seasons and pleasant summers
In July, afternoons reach 86°; in January, nights fall to 14°, and about 22 inches of snow falls in a winter.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Rathbun stands out in Iowa and nationally: a larger share of its adults have high blood pressure
For adults in Rathbun, the share who report frequent physical distress is 17%. Among 141 Iowa towns, just one has a higher share of adults who have diabetes than Rathbun. 44% of Rathbun adults have obesity, against 38% in Iowa’s towns and 35% across U.S. towns. CDC measures, 32 in all: Rathbun beats Iowa on 1 and trails on 17.
| Rathbun | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 35% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | Rathbun | IA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.3% | 77.8% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 20.5% | 11.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Moderate risk in Rathbun, with drought at the top
On expected storm and flood damage, Rathbun sits above 53% of U.S. communities. Households locally have drawn federal disaster aid in 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2013. 39% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from drought, followed by inland flooding at 29%.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Everything we know about Rathbun
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Rathbun; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Rathbun residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
About Rathbun
City in Iowa, US
Rathbun is a city in Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 43 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 938 ft
Questions about Rathbun
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rathbun, IA a good place to live?
Rathbun has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.