What are the schools like in Calmar, IA?

Calmar is served primarily by South Winneshiek Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

What is the median household income in Calmar?

The median household income in Calmar, IA is $73,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.2%.

What is the weather like in Calmar, IA?

Calmar has an average high temperature of 27.7°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Calmar, IA affordable or expensive?

Calmar's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Calmar is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $185,000 and the median rent is $655 per month.

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

Calmar has a violent crime rate of 130.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 165.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Calmar, IA a Good Place to Live?

Calmar is a small town of 831 in Iowa, with a median household income of $73,500 and a 0.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

All Calmar 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: 89.9

Calmar's overall cost of living index is 89.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Calmar costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Calmar, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$185,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$655	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	75.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Calmar's violent crime rate is 130.1 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

130.1 /100k

Property Crime

165.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Calmar is served primarily by South Winneshiek Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Calmar, IA	National Avg
School District	South Winneshiek Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Calmar sees average highs of 27.7°F in January and 84.4°F in July, with 38.3 inches of annual precipitation and 37.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Calmar, IA
Average High — January	27.7°F
Average High — July	84.4°F
Annual Precipitation	38.3"
Annual Snowfall	37.5"

Demographics

Metric	Calmar, IA	National Avg
Population	831	—
Median Age	37.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.3%	22.2%
65 and over	12.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fort Atkinson, IA 4 mi Spillville, IA 5 mi Ossian, IA 6 mi St. Lucas, IA 9 mi Decorah, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Calmar

Calmar, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52132

Calmar vs Other Cities

Calmar, IA vs Fort Atkinson, IA Calmar, IA vs Spillville, IA Calmar, IA vs Ossian, IA Calmar, IA vs St. Lucas, IA Calmar, IA vs Decorah, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Calmar, IA affordable or expensive?

Calmar's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Calmar roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $185,000 and median rent is $655/month.

What is the crime rate in Calmar, IA?

Calmar's violent crime rate is 130.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 165.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Calmar?

Public schools in Calmar are operated by South Winneshiek Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Calmar, IA a good place to live?

Calmar, IA has a population of 831, a median household income of $73,500, and an unemployment rate of 0.2%. 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 Calmar?

Calmar averages 27.7°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.3 inches with about 37.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Calmar?

Calmar, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52132.

What is the population of Calmar?

The population of Calmar, Iowa is 831 with a median age of 37.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Calmar?

Key numbers for living in Calmar: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $185,000, median household income $73,500, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Calmar side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.