What are the schools like in Avoca, IA?

Avoca is served primarily by AHSTW Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.4:1.

What is the median household income in Avoca?

The median household income in Avoca, IA is $66,250 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 Avoca, IA?

Avoca has an average high temperature of 30.7°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Avoca, IA affordable or expensive?

Avoca's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Avoca is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $164,500 and the median rent is $798 per month.

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

Avoca has a violent crime rate of 395.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2012.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Avoca, IA a Good Place to Live?

Avoca is a small town of 1,375 in Iowa, with a median household income of $66,250 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

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

All Avoca 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: 92.5

Avoca's overall cost of living index is 92.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Avoca costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Avoca, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$164,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$798	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Avoca's violent crime rate is 395.9 per 100,000 residents — 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

395.9 /100k

Property Crime

2012.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Avoca is served primarily by AHSTW Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Avoca, IA	National Avg
School District	AHSTW Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Avoca sees average highs of 30.7°F in January and 85.9°F in July, with 34.3 inches of annual precipitation and 30.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Avoca, IA
Average High — January	30.7°F
Average High — July	85.9°F
Annual Precipitation	34.3"
Annual Snowfall	30.5"

Demographics

Metric	Avoca, IA	National Avg
Population	1,375	—
Median Age	45.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	18.7%	22.2%
65 and over	27.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Shelby, IA 6 mi Walnut, IA 6 mi Hancock, IA 6 mi Corley, IA 7 mi Tennant, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Avoca

Avoca, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51521

Avoca vs Other Cities

Avoca, IA vs Shelby, IA Avoca, IA vs Walnut, IA Avoca, IA vs Hancock, IA Avoca, IA vs Corley, IA Avoca, IA vs Tennant, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Avoca, IA affordable or expensive?

Avoca's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Avoca roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $164,500 and median rent is $798/month.

What is the crime rate in Avoca, IA?

Avoca's violent crime rate is 395.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2012.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Avoca?

Public schools in Avoca are operated by AHSTW Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1. 24.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Avoca, IA a good place to live?

Avoca, IA has a population of 1,375, a median household income of $66,250, 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 Avoca?

Avoca averages 30.7°F in January and 85.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.3 inches with about 30.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Avoca?

Avoca, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51521.

What is the population of Avoca?

The population of Avoca, Iowa is 1,375 with a median age of 45.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Avoca?

Key numbers for living in Avoca: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $164,500, median household income $66,250, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Avoca side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.