What are the schools like in Afton, IA?

Afton is served primarily by East Union Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.3:1.

What is the median household income in Afton?

The median household income in Afton, IA is $60,625 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

What is the weather like in Afton, IA?

Afton has an average high temperature of 30.5°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 27.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Afton, IA affordable or expensive?

Afton's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Afton is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $83,200 and the median rent is $653 per month.

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

Afton has a violent crime rate of 212.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 874.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Afton, IA a Good Place to Live?

Afton is a small town of 1,105 in Iowa, with a median household income of $60,625 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Afton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Afton 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: 86.0

Afton's overall cost of living index is 86.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Afton costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Afton, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$83,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$653	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,625	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Afton's violent crime rate is 212.4 per 100,000 residents — 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

212.4 /100k

Property Crime

874.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Afton is served primarily by East Union Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Afton, IA	National Avg
School District	East Union Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Afton sees average highs of 30.5°F in January and 84.7°F in July, with 38.0 inches of annual precipitation and 27.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Afton, IA
Average High — January	30.5°F
Average High — July	84.7°F
Annual Precipitation	38.0"
Annual Snowfall	27.7"

Demographics

Metric	Afton, IA	National Avg
Population	1,105	—
Median Age	37.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.3%	22.2%
65 and over	20.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Arispe, IA 6 mi Thayer, IA 8 mi Creston, IA 9 mi Shannon City, IA 10 mi Lorimor, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Afton

Afton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50830

Afton vs Other Cities

Afton, IA vs Arispe, IA Afton, IA vs Thayer, IA Afton, IA vs Creston, IA Afton, IA vs Shannon City, IA Afton, IA vs Lorimor, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Afton, IA affordable or expensive?

Afton's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Afton roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $83,200 and median rent is $653/month.

What is the crime rate in Afton, IA?

Afton's violent crime rate is 212.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 874.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Afton?

Public schools in Afton are operated by East Union Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1. 21.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Afton, IA a good place to live?

Afton, IA has a population of 1,105, a median household income of $60,625, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. 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 Afton?

Afton averages 30.5°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.0 inches with about 27.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Afton?

Afton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50830.

What is the population of Afton?

The population of Afton, Iowa is 1,105 with a median age of 37.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Afton?

Key numbers for living in Afton: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $83,200, median household income $60,625, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Afton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.