Centerville

Tucked into the rolling hills of Appanoose County in southern Iowa, Centerville is the kind of town that doesn’t shout for attention — it earns it. The county seat sits about 90 miles southeast of Des Moines and roughly 30 miles north of the Missouri border, offering a genuine small-town experience without complete isolation from larger metro amenities. If you’re tired of high rents, long commutes, and the relentless pace of city life, Centerville deserves a serious look.

A City That Fits Multiple Lifestyles

With a population of around 5,377, Centerville is small enough that you’ll recognize faces at the grocery store but large enough to have real infrastructure. The city centers around its historic town square, anchored by the beautifully restored Appanoose County Courthouse — one of the most photographed landmarks in the region. The square itself hosts local shops, a diner or two, and community events throughout the year, giving the downtown a genuine heartbeat rather than a hollowed-out feel you find in many comparable Midwest towns. Neighborhoods around the square tend to feature older Victorian-era homes with character and mature trees, while the south and east sides of town offer quieter, more suburban-style streets. The median age of 47.2 reflects a community that skews toward established adults and retirees, but younger families have been quietly moving in, drawn by the affordability and slower pace.

Cost of Living and Housing

This is where Centerville genuinely surprises people. The median home price sits at just $99,000, which means homeownership is realistically attainable for households earning a modest income. You can find solid three-bedroom homes near the town square for under $120,000, and fixer-uppers with real potential in the $60,000–$75,000 range. Renters also benefit, with apartments and small houses available well below what you’d pay in Iowa City or Des Moines. The median household income of around $41,472 aligns reasonably with the local cost of living, meaning your dollar genuinely stretches further here. Utilities, groceries, and local services all reflect small-town pricing, and property taxes in Appanoose County are manageable compared to much of the state.

Employment and Economy

Employment is the honest challenge in Centerville. The local economy leans on manufacturing, healthcare, and public sector jobs. Appanoose County Regional Medical Center is one of the larger employers in town and serves the broader surrounding region. Manufacturing operations, including those tied to the agricultural supply chain, provide working-class jobs that have kept families here for generations. Some residents commute to Ottumwa, about 35 miles north, which has a broader industrial and commercial base including the major Tyson Foods facility. Remote work has opened new doors for people moving in, and a stable internet infrastructure makes working from home a viable option for many professionals.

Lifestyle and Recreation

Centerville’s outdoor access is genuinely underrated. Rathbun Lake, one of Iowa’s largest reservoirs, sits just a short drive north of town and offers boating, fishing, camping, and hiking around its extensive shoreline. The area draws visitors from across the region, and locals have easy, uncrowded access most of the year. In town, Simpson Park provides green space for families, and the Appanoose Arts Community regularly brings cultural programming to the area. The Southern Iowa Fairgrounds hosts seasonal events, and the town square stays active with festivals, farmers markets, and community gatherings that give Centerville a social rhythm many larger towns struggle to manufacture.

The Bottom Line

Centerville won’t be the right fit for everyone. If career advancement, nightlife, or cultural diversity are top priorities, you’ll likely feel constrained. But if you’re seeking an affordable, rooted community where homeownership is achievable, neighbors still wave from porches, and a beautiful lake is practically in your backyard, Centerville offers something increasingly rare — a genuinely livable life at a price that makes sense.