What are the schools like in Adel, IA?

Adel is served primarily by Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in Adel?

The median household income in Adel, IA is $91,891 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in Adel, IA?

Adel has an average high temperature of 29.5°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Adel, IA affordable or expensive?

Adel's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Adel is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $286,000 and the median rent is $818 per month.

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

Adel has a violent crime rate of 76.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 638.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Adel, IA a Good Place to Live?

Adel is a small town of 6,090 in Iowa, with a median household income of $91,891 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Adel stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Adel 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: 92.7

Adel's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Adel costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Adel, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$286,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$818	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$91,891	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Adel's violent crime rate is 76.0 per 100,000 residents — 80% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

76.0 /100k

Property Crime

638.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Adel is served primarily by Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Adel, IA	National Avg
School District	Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Adel sees average highs of 29.5°F in January and 85.4°F in July, with 37.3 inches of annual precipitation and 38.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Adel, IA
Average High — January	29.5°F
Average High — July	85.4°F
Annual Precipitation	37.3"
Annual Snowfall	38.0"

Demographics

Metric	Adel, IA	National Avg
Population	6,090	—
Median Age	36.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	89.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	28.7%	22.2%
65 and over	12.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

De Soto, IA 5 mi Dallas Center, IA 5 mi Waukee, IA 7 mi Van Meter, IA 7 mi Redfield, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Adel

Adel, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50003

Adel vs Other Cities

Adel, IA vs De Soto, IA Adel, IA vs Dallas Center, IA Adel, IA vs Waukee, IA Adel, IA vs Van Meter, IA Adel, IA vs Redfield, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Adel, IA affordable or expensive?

Adel's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Adel roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $286,000 and median rent is $818/month.

What is the crime rate in Adel, IA?

Adel's violent crime rate is 76.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 638.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Adel?

Public schools in Adel are operated by Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 43.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Adel, IA a good place to live?

Adel, IA has a population of 6,090, a median household income of $91,891, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. 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 Adel?

Adel averages 29.5°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.3 inches with about 38.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Adel?

Adel, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50003.

What is the population of Adel?

The population of Adel, Iowa is 6,090 with a median age of 36.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Adel?

Key numbers for living in Adel: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $286,000, median household income $91,891, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Adel side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.