Calamus is a small town of 408 in Iowa, with a median household income of $67,708
and a 2.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Calamus stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Calamus is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Calamus 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: 87.9
Calamus's overall cost of living index is 87.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Calamus costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Calamus, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$122,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$650
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
92.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,708
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Calamus's violent crime rate is 301.5 per 100,000 residents
— 21% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
301.5 /100k
Property Crime
1820.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Calamus is served primarily by Calamus-Wheatland Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Calamus, IA
National Avg
School District
Calamus-Wheatland Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Calamus sees average highs of 29.1°F in January
and 85.2°F in July,
with 39.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.8 inches of snow per year.
Calamus's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Calamus roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $122,800 and median rent is $650/month.
Calamus's violent crime rate is 301.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1820.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Calamus are operated by Calamus-Wheatland Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.6:1. 18.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Calamus, IA has a population of 408, a median household income of $67,708, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%.
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.
Calamus averages 29.1°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.2 inches
with about 39.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Calamus, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52729.
The population of Calamus, Iowa is 408 with a median age of 40.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Calamus: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $122,800, median household income $67,708, crime index 82 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Calamus side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
