What are the schools like in Ackley, IA?

Ackley is served primarily by AGWSR Comm School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Ackley?

The median household income in Ackley, IA is $60,577 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.9%.

What is the weather like in Ackley, IA?

Ackley has an average high temperature of 25.7°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 27.7 inches.

Ackley, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ackley, IA affordable or expensive?

Ackley's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ackley is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $94,000 and the median rent is $638 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ackley, IA?

Ackley has a violent crime rate of 552.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1080.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ackley, IA a Good Place to Live?

Ackley is a small town of 1,699 in Iowa, with a median household income of $60,577 and a 2.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

Strengths: Ackley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ackley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ackley city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.4

Ackley's overall cost of living index is 86.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ackley costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ackley, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$94,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$638	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,577	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Ackley's violent crime rate is 552.1 per 100,000 residents — 45% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

552.1 /100k

Property Crime

1080.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ackley is served primarily by AGWSR Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ackley, IA	National Avg
School District	AGWSR Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ackley sees average highs of 25.7°F in January and 82.9°F in July, with 37.5 inches of annual precipitation and 27.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ackley, IA
Average High — January	25.7°F
Average High — July	82.9°F
Annual Precipitation	37.5"
Annual Snowfall	27.7"

Demographics

Metric	Ackley, IA	National Avg
Population	1,699	—
Median Age	42.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	22.1%	22.2%
65 and over	21.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Aplington, IA 9 mi Geneva, IA 9 mi Steamboat Rock, IA 10 mi Wellsburg, IA 10 mi Iowa Falls, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Ackley

Ackley, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50601

Ackley vs Other Cities

Ackley, IA vs Aplington, IA Ackley, IA vs Geneva, IA Ackley, IA vs Steamboat Rock, IA Ackley, IA vs Wellsburg, IA Ackley, IA vs Iowa Falls, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ackley, IA affordable or expensive?

Ackley's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ackley roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $94,000 and median rent is $638/month.

What is the crime rate in Ackley, IA?

Ackley's violent crime rate is 552.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1080.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ackley?

Public schools in Ackley are operated by AGWSR Comm School District. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 20.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ackley, IA a good place to live?

Ackley, IA has a population of 1,699, a median household income of $60,577, and an unemployment rate of 2.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ackley?

Ackley averages 25.7°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.5 inches with about 27.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ackley?

Ackley, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50601.

What is the population of Ackley?

The population of Ackley, Iowa is 1,699 with a median age of 42.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ackley?

Key numbers for living in Ackley: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $94,000, median household income $60,577, crime index 108 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ackley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.