What are the schools like in Atlantic, IA?

Atlantic is served primarily by Atlantic Comm School District. The district operates 2 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 Atlantic?

The median household income in Atlantic, IA is $54,692 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.3%.

What is the weather like in Atlantic, IA?

Atlantic has an average high temperature of 31.2°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 27.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Atlantic, IA affordable or expensive?

Atlantic's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Atlantic is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $124,600 and the median rent is $684 per month.

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

Atlantic has a violent crime rate of 368.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1991.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Atlantic, IA a Good Place to Live?

Atlantic is a small town of 6,770 in Iowa, with a median household income of $54,692 and a 1.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Atlantic is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Atlantic 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: 88.3

Atlantic's overall cost of living index is 88.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Atlantic costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Atlantic, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$124,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$684	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,692	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Atlantic's violent crime rate is 368.8 per 100,000 residents — 3% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

368.8 /100k

Property Crime

1991.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

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

Metric	Atlantic, IA	National Avg
School District	Atlantic Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Atlantic sees average highs of 31.2°F in January and 86.1°F in July, with 37.1 inches of annual precipitation and 27.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Atlantic, IA
Average High — January	31.2°F
Average High — July	86.1°F
Annual Precipitation	37.1"
Annual Snowfall	27.3"

Demographics

Metric	Atlantic, IA	National Avg
Population	6,770	—
Median Age	44.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	11.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	20.6%	22.2%
65 and over	23.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Marne, IA 6 mi Lewis, IA 7 mi Wiota, IA 7 mi Cumberland, IA 11 mi Brayton, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Atlantic

Atlantic, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50022

Atlantic vs Other Cities

Atlantic, IA vs Marne, IA Atlantic, IA vs Lewis, IA Atlantic, IA vs Wiota, IA Atlantic, IA vs Cumberland, IA Atlantic, IA vs Brayton, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Atlantic, IA affordable or expensive?

Atlantic's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Atlantic roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $124,600 and median rent is $684/month.

What is the crime rate in Atlantic, IA?

Atlantic's violent crime rate is 368.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1991.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Atlantic?

Public schools in Atlantic are operated by Atlantic Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 24.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Atlantic, IA a good place to live?

Atlantic, IA has a population of 6,770, a median household income of $54,692, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%. 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 Atlantic?

Atlantic averages 31.2°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.1 inches with about 27.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Atlantic?

Atlantic, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50022.

What is the population of Atlantic?

The population of Atlantic, Iowa is 6,770 with a median age of 44.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Atlantic?

Key numbers for living in Atlantic: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $124,600, median household income $54,692, crime index 96 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Atlantic side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.