Agricultural roots, art and ambition in Jefferson
Jefferson may be a farming town of 4,000, but it’s earning national recognition for its investment in the arts and strong community spirit. “I enjoy the fact that it’s a small town with a nice, relaxed pace of life,” says Matt Wetrich, a resident, city councilor and executive director of Jefferson Matters, the city’s combined Main Street and chamber of commerce organization. “The kids can ride their bikes to dance practice or walk to a friend’s house, and parents are always looking out for each other.” The 14-story Mahanay Bell Tower, visible for miles, anchors downtown and includes an observation deck overlooking rooftop murals, part of the city’s artistic endeavors. Jefferson was named one of three 2025 Great American Main Street Award winners for its public art installations, festivals and facade improvements. “We wanted to be a national model for rural revitalization, and winning that award leans into that,” Wetrich says.
Styles from every era at a lower price than Carroll
The local housing market offers a range of options, with a median price around $150,000, which is lower than Carroll’s median of about $200,000. Homes span several eras and styles, from early 20th-century bungalows and American Foursquares to midcentury ranches and newer builds from the 2000s located beyond the historic center. Fixer-uppers can cost $20,000 to $100,000, but most homes fall between $100,000 and $250,000. Post-2000s homes typically sell for $250,000 to $400,000.
Public art shapes the town square
The Greene County Courthouse and Mahany Bell Tower anchor the town square. “We’ve got four pedestrian alleyways around the square,” Wetrich says. “One is used as an outdoor space for the local sports bar [Doc’s Stadium], and the other three we’ve renovated as public art spaces, taking unused spaces and making them more inviting through art.” Hy-Vee and Fareway have groceries covered, but Wetrich says the city continues to develop its retail and dining scene. “Retail spaces are tough. Everywhere is struggling because so much shopping is online,” he says. “Shoppers and travelers are very experiential consumers nowadays, so doing something versus just shopping is going to be a big thing for communities of our size.” One business doing just that is RVP~1875, a historical custom furniture store and museum where visitors can shop, take a tour, or learn to build their own piece of 19th century furniture. Still, the downtown area has a handful of eateries, including The Centennial, Breadeaux Pizza and Greene Bean Coffee.
Local festivals feature food, music and neighborhood charm
The annual Belltower Festival brings locals and visitors to the town square for food, vendors, activities and a parade. “The entire community gets engaged, and we know that the second weekend in June, there’ll be 8,000 to 10,000 people downtown. The town basically doubles in size,” Wetrich says. Jefferson also has plenty of art-based events like the Art in the Garden Festival and Porch Fest. “Different homes will host a musician for 45 minutes, and you just pop in somebody’s front yard. The musician plays, you move on to the next house, and you end up downtown for the final act,” Wetrich says.
Career prep at Greene County Community School District
Iowa offers open enrollment, but many students attend schools in town at Greene County Community School District, which receives a C-plus rating from Niche. The district has three schools and an enrollment of about 1,200 students. The high school is home to the Greene County Career Academy, which offers seven career concentrations through a partnership with Iowa Central Community College.
Parks, trails and Raccoon River access
“There’s a surprising amount of outdoor things to do here compared to what most folks think,” Wetrich says. “There’s a lot of neat and natural areas to explore, whether it’s hiking, biking or bird watching, which is always surprising for folks, and there’s camping and fishing around here as well.” Jefferson has about a dozen city parks, plus two county parks just south of town. “People float and fish on the Racoon River,” Wetrich says. “We also have the Racoon River Valley Trail and we say it starts here but it goes all the way to downtown Des Moines, about 60 miles, and it’s a great day or weekend ride for anyone into biking.” Entertainment seekers can head to Wild Rose Casino and Hotel.
About an hour from Des Moines
Medical care is available in town at Greene County Medical Center. Jefferson is less than 70 miles from Des Moines and its international airport, or just over an hour by car. Omaha, Nebraska, is about 130 miles away, roughly a two-hour drive. An active rail line runs through town, but the Elm Street overpass helps minimize traffic delays.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
