What are the schools like in Alta, IA?

Alta is served primarily by Alta-Aurelia Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Alta?

The median household income in Alta, IA is $70,094 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 15.4%.

What is the weather like in Alta, IA?

Alta has an average high temperature of 25.8°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Alta, IA affordable or expensive?

Alta's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alta is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $118,200 and the median rent is $861 per month.

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

Alta has a violent crime rate of 214.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1100.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alta, IA a Good Place to Live?

Alta is a small town of 2,207 in Iowa, with a median household income of $70,094 and a 15.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Alta 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 Alta is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alta 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: 89.9

Alta's overall cost of living index is 89.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alta costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Alta, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$118,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$861	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$70,094	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Alta's violent crime rate is 214.1 per 100,000 residents — 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

214.1 /100k

Property Crime

1100.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Alta is served primarily by Alta-Aurelia Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alta, IA	National Avg
School District	Alta-Aurelia Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alta sees average highs of 25.8°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation and 36.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Alta, IA
Average High — January	25.8°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	33.8"
Annual Snowfall	36.4"

Demographics

Metric	Alta, IA	National Avg
Population	2,207	—
Median Age	36.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	15.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.7%	18.9%
Asian	11.1%	6.3%
Under 18	31.4%	22.2%
65 and over	11.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Storm Lake, IA 6 mi Aurelia, IA 7 mi Truesdale, IA 7 mi Lakeside, IA 7 mi Schaller, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Alta

Alta, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51002

Alta vs Other Cities

Alta, IA vs Storm Lake, IA Alta, IA vs Aurelia, IA Alta, IA vs Truesdale, IA Alta, IA vs Lakeside, IA Alta, IA vs Schaller, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alta, IA affordable or expensive?

Alta's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alta roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $118,200 and median rent is $861/month.

What is the crime rate in Alta, IA?

Alta's violent crime rate is 214.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1100.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alta?

Public schools in Alta are operated by Alta-Aurelia Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alta, IA a good place to live?

Alta, IA has a population of 2,207, a median household income of $70,094, and an unemployment rate of 15.4%. 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 Alta?

Alta averages 25.8°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.8 inches with about 36.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Alta?

Alta, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51002.

What is the population of Alta?

The population of Alta, Iowa is 2,207 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alta?

Key numbers for living in Alta: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $118,200, median household income $70,094, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alta side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.