What are the schools like in Alden, IA?

Alden is served primarily by Alden Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.7:1.

What is the median household income in Alden?

The median household income in Alden, IA is $62,969 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in Alden, IA?

Alden has an average high temperature of 25.7°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Alden, IA affordable or expensive?

Alden's cost of living index is 86, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alden is 14% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $103,400 and the median rent is $562 per month.

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

Alden 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 Alden, IA a Good Place to Live?

Alden is a small town of 830 in Iowa, with a median household income of $62,969 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is 14% below the national average.

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

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

All Alden 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: 85.8

Alden's overall cost of living index is 85.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alden costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.

Metric	Alden, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$103,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$562	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,969	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Alden'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

Alden is served primarily by Alden Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alden, IA	National Avg
School District	Alden Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alden sees average highs of 25.7°F in January and 82.9°F in July, with 34.9 inches of annual precipitation and 30.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Alden, IA
Average High — January	25.7°F
Average High — July	82.9°F
Annual Precipitation	34.9"
Annual Snowfall	30.0"

Demographics

Metric	Alden, IA	National Avg
Population	830	—
Median Age	41.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.1%	22.2%
65 and over	19.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Iowa Falls, IA 6 mi Popejoy, IA 6 mi Buckeye, IA 6 mi Williams, IA 8 mi Owasa, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Alden

Alden, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50006

Alden vs Other Cities

Alden, IA vs Iowa Falls, IA Alden, IA vs Popejoy, IA Alden, IA vs Buckeye, IA Alden, IA vs Williams, IA Alden, IA vs Owasa, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alden, IA affordable or expensive?

Alden's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alden roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $103,400 and median rent is $562/month.

What is the crime rate in Alden, IA?

Alden'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 Alden?

Public schools in Alden are operated by Alden Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.7:1. 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alden, IA a good place to live?

Alden, IA has a population of 830, a median household income of $62,969, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. 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 Alden?

Alden averages 25.7°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.9 inches with about 30.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Alden?

Alden, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50006.

What is the population of Alden?

The population of Alden, Iowa is 830 with a median age of 41.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alden?

Key numbers for living in Alden: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $103,400, median household income $62,969, 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 Alden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.