Is Wesley a good place to live?
No town among the 138 in Iowa we compare has a lower rent at the middle of the market than Wesley. Wesley has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
379 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Wesley: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Wesley, 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 Wesley.
Fewer of Wesley’s working residents work locally than in the typical Iowa or U.S. town
Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Wesley dropped by 23, to 69. The town’s typical journey to work stands at 20 minutes, against 19 minutes in Iowa’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Half of commuters travel less than 21 miles. The top destinations are Algona (27%), Forest City (6%) and Titonka (4%).
| Wesley | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 1.7% | 31% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $68,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Homes in Wesley are worth about $181K, by Zillow’s estimate
The share of households in Wesley who live in a home they own is 89%, above both the Iowa town median (70%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%).
Typical home value
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Wesley’s year
In Wesley, the typical July afternoon high is 83°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Wesley is
In Wesley, just over a fifth of adults binge drink. Among adults here, 40% have obesity and 31% feel lonely.
| Wesley | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 20% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 33% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 15% | 14% |
| What stands out | Wesley | IA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.1% | 11.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Wesley faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Wesley after 5 declared disasters, most recently in 2024. Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in 52% of U.S. communities. 30% of the town’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by drought at 28%.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Everything we know about Wesley
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Wesley; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Wesley residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
98% of working residents leave Wesley for work
Where Wesley’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Wesley
City in Iowa, USA
Wesley is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, United States. The population was 391 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1892
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,250 ft
- ZIP code
- 50483
Questions about Wesley
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Wesley, IA a good place to live?
Wesley has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Wesley, IA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Showboat Fisher and Robert Otto.