Below Average CostVery SafeBenton Comm School District
Median Income
$110,313
household / year
Median Home Value
$283,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$480
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100
Is Atkins, IA a Good Place to Live?
Atkins is a small town of 2,296 in Iowa, with a median household income of $110,313
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Atkins stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Atkins is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Atkins 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: 90.0
Atkins's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Atkins costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Atkins, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$283,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$480
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
92.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$110,313
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Atkins's violent crime rate is 183.3 per 100,000 residents
— 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
183.3 /100k
Property Crime
464.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Atkins is served primarily by Benton Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Atkins, IA
National Avg
School District
Benton Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
33.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Atkins sees average highs of 27.9°F in January
and 82.8°F in July,
with 34.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.2 inches of snow per year.
Atkins's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Atkins roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $283,800 and median rent is $480/month.
Atkins's violent crime rate is 183.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 464.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Atkins are operated by Benton Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 33.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Atkins, IA has a population of 2,296, a median household income of $110,313, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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.
Atkins averages 27.9°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.6 inches
with about 27.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Atkins, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52206.
The population of Atkins, Iowa is 2,296 with a median age of 39.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Atkins: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $283,800, median household income $110,313, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Atkins side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.