Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 3,849, settled in 1853. 26% more nonprofits per person than the typical Iowa town.
Trash day: look up yoursWaukon is one of the best-graded places in America: an A+, ranked 13th of 140 in Iowa. It reports less crime per resident than 92% of U.S. towns, a typical home costs about $245K, 3.5 years of the county’s $71K median household income, and its schools rank ahead of 84% of Iowa towns. Its lowest mark, a C+, is in health. On hazard risk, just 11 of Iowa’s 276 towns do better. Waukon's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 98% of U.S. towns. Waukon has 3 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Allamakee County Courthouse and Otto J. Hager House.
Where Waukon beats most towns.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Iowa), ordered by how far Waukon is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 1,350 in 1880, 3,827 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1861 and 3 maps from 1903 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Waukon, 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.
Ordered by what stands out in Waukon.
Waukon pairs an A− for schools with modest home prices, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and sees little violent crime.
Violent crime is rare: 2 reported in 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 residents.
At 4 per 1,000 residents, Waukon’s property crime rate is below both the Iowa town median (7.4) and the median of U.S. towns (9.9). Waukon’s violent crime rate is 0.5 per 1,000 residents.
| Waukon | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4 per 1,000 residents | 7.4 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.5 per 1,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Its A− for schools comes with an A for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $245K.
Its public schools are run by the Allamakee Community School District. Three of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Waukon High School, with 392 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Campus Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–2 | Grades PK–2 | 265 | – |
| Waukon High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 392 | A− |
| East Campus Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades 3–5 | Grades 3–5 | 220 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within IA on state tests and graduation
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 81% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Waukon since 1978.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
28% of Waukon residents are 65 or older, against 19% in Iowa’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns. The median age in Waukon is 44.3 years. 26% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 31% across Iowa.
| Waukon | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 28% | 19% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 19% | 23% | 22% |
| Median age | 44.3 years | 38.7 years | 40.5 years |
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.3 points. Across Iowa, 49.8% of residents are women.
| Waukon | IA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.3% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.4% | 10.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.4% | 10% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.1% | 12.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.8% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.2% | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 12.6% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 9% | 6.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 35.1% | 30% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.7% | 19.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.5% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16.6% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.1% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,800, single groups can be off by several points
No town among the 140 in Iowa we compare has a lower July high than Waukon. Waukon has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Against the 8,999 U.S. towns with household incomes like Waukon’s, it is healthier than 57%, so its C+ isn’t only a matter of income.
Waukon beats the Iowa average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 42% of adults have obesity in Waukon.
| Waukon | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 38% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 20% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 33% |
| What stands out | Waukon | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.6% | 11.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.2% | 77.8% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.7% | 6.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
About one in 3 of Waukon’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Decorah (12%), Postville (3%) and La Crosse (3%). Half commute less than 15 miles.
| Waukon | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 34% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
0.8 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Waukon City Park - North Unit, at 53 acres.
| Waukon | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.2% | 3.1% | 4.3% |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Waukon City Park - South Unit | 0.8 mi | 17 |
| 2. Waukon City Park - North Unit | — | 53 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Typical home values rose 7.4% in the year to September 2026. Among 137 Iowa towns, just 6 have a lower median rent than Waukon.
| Waukon | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $696 a month | $913 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 70% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
None within 15 miles of Waukon; the nearest are
About 5 of every 100 Waukon residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Iowa.
3 places in Waukon on the National Register of Historic Places.
5 notable people were born in Waukon.
City in Iowa, United States
Waukon is a city in Makee Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States, and the county seat of Allamakee County. The population was 3,827 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Yes, by almost any measure. Waukon grades A+ overall, better than 97% of U.S. towns and #13 of 140 in Iowa. It grades C+ for health, A for safety and A− for schools.
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.
5 notable people were born here, including Michael T. Osterholm and Joseph Taggart.
