What are the schools like in Alton, IA?

Alton is served primarily by MOC-Floyd Valley Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

What is the median household income in Alton?

The median household income in Alton, IA is $81,923 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

What is the weather like in Alton, IA?

Alton has an average high temperature of 27.4°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Alton, IA affordable or expensive?

Alton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alton is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $183,800 and the median rent is $695 per month.

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

Alton has a violent crime rate of 45.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 232.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alton, IA a Good Place to Live?

Alton is a small town of 1,283 in Iowa, with a median household income of $81,923 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

All Alton 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: 90.4

Alton's overall cost of living index is 90.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Alton, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$183,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$695	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	85.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$81,923	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Alton's violent crime rate is 45.9 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

45.9 /100k

Property Crime

232.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Alton is served primarily by MOC-Floyd Valley Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Alton, IA	National Avg
School District	MOC-Floyd Valley Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alton sees average highs of 27.4°F in January and 84.8°F in July, with 28.3 inches of annual precipitation and 26.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Alton, IA
Average High — January	27.4°F
Average High — July	84.8°F
Annual Precipitation	28.3"
Annual Snowfall	26.6"

Demographics

Metric	Alton, IA	National Avg
Population	1,283	—
Median Age	34.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.2%	6.3%
Under 18	20.9%	22.2%
65 and over	15.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Orange City, IA 3 mi Granville, IA 7 mi Hospers, IA 8 mi Maurice, IA 9 mi Sioux Center, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Alton

Alton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51003

Alton vs Other Cities

Alton, IA vs Orange City, IA Alton, IA vs Granville, IA Alton, IA vs Hospers, IA Alton, IA vs Maurice, IA Alton, IA vs Sioux Center, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alton, IA affordable or expensive?

Alton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Alton roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $183,800 and median rent is $695/month.

What is the crime rate in Alton, IA?

Alton's violent crime rate is 45.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 232.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alton?

Public schools in Alton are operated by MOC-Floyd Valley Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Alton, IA a good place to live?

Alton, IA has a population of 1,283, a median household income of $81,923, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. 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 Alton?

Alton averages 27.4°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.3 inches with about 26.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Alton?

Alton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51003.

What is the population of Alton?

The population of Alton, Iowa is 1,283 with a median age of 34.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alton?

Key numbers for living in Alton: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $183,800, median household income $81,923, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.