What are the schools like in Boone, IA?

Boone is served primarily by Boone Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.5:1.

What is the median household income in Boone?

The median household income in Boone, IA is $64,192 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.8%.

What is the weather like in Boone, IA?

Boone has an average high temperature of 28.2°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Boone, IA affordable or expensive?

Boone's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Boone is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $142,200 and the median rent is $837 per month.

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

Crime rate data for Boone is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Boone, IA a Good Place to Live?

Boone is a small city of 12,482 in Iowa, with a median household income of $64,192 and a 0.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

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

All Boone 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: 91.4

Boone's overall cost of living index is 91.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Boone costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Boone, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$142,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$837	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,192	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Boone is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Boone is served primarily by Boone Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Boone, IA	National Avg
School District	Boone Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Boone sees average highs of 28.2°F in January and 84.2°F in July, with 39.1 inches of annual precipitation and 35.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Boone, IA
Average High — January	28.2°F
Average High — July	84.2°F
Annual Precipitation	39.1"
Annual Snowfall	35.9"

Demographics

Metric	Boone, IA	National Avg
Population	12,482	—
Median Age	38.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	20.1%	22.2%
65 and over	17.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Luther, IA 6 mi Fraser, IA 7 mi Ogden, IA 8 mi Pilot Mound, IA 11 mi Gilbert, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Boone

Boone, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50036

Boone vs Other Cities

Boone, IA vs Luther, IA Boone, IA vs Fraser, IA Boone, IA vs Ogden, IA Boone, IA vs Pilot Mound, IA Boone, IA vs Gilbert, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boone, IA affordable or expensive?

Boone's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Boone roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $142,200 and median rent is $837/month.

What is the crime rate in Boone, IA?

Crime data for Boone is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Boone?

Public schools in Boone are operated by Boone Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Boone, IA a good place to live?

Boone, IA has a population of 12,482, a median household income of $64,192, and an unemployment rate of 0.8%. 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 Boone?

Boone averages 28.2°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.1 inches with about 35.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Boone?

Boone, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50036.

What is the population of Boone?

The population of Boone, Iowa is 12,482 with a median age of 38.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Boone?

Key numbers for living in Boone: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $142,200, median household income $64,192, schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Boone side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.