Baxter is a small town of 1,036 in Iowa, with a median household income of $57,500
.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Baxter stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Baxter is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Baxter 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: 92.7
Baxter's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Baxter costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Baxter, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$142,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$643
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Baxter's violent crime rate is 228.6 per 100,000 residents
— 40% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
228.6 /100k
Property Crime
750.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Baxter is served primarily by Baxter Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Baxter, IA
National Avg
School District
Baxter Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Baxter sees average highs of 28.0°F in January
and 84.6°F in July,
with 35.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.7 inches of snow per year.
Baxter's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Baxter roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $142,600 and median rent is $643/month.
Baxter's violent crime rate is 228.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 750.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Baxter are operated by Baxter Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 19.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Baxter, IA has a population of 1,036, a median household income of $57,500, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Baxter averages 28.0°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.1 inches
with about 28.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Baxter, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50028.
The population of Baxter, Iowa is 1,036 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Baxter: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $142,600, median household income $57,500, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Baxter side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
