What are the schools like in Cascade, IA?

Cascade is served primarily by Western Dubuque Comm School District. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in Cascade?

The median household income in Cascade, IA is $62,829 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.4%.

What is the weather like in Cascade, IA?

Cascade has an average high temperature of 27.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 31.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Cascade, IA affordable or expensive?

Cascade's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cascade is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $173,600 and the median rent is $802 per month.

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

Cascade has a violent crime rate of 283.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1055.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cascade, IA a Good Place to Live?

Cascade is a small town of 2,312 in Iowa, with a median household income of $62,829 and a 0.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

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

All Cascade 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: 89.1

Cascade's overall cost of living index is 89.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cascade costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Cascade, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$173,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$802	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,829	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Cascade's violent crime rate is 283.6 per 100,000 residents — 25% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

283.6 /100k

Property Crime

1055.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Cascade is served primarily by Western Dubuque Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cascade, IA	National Avg
School District	Western Dubuque Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cascade sees average highs of 27.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 39.3 inches of annual precipitation and 31.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cascade, IA
Average High — January	27.4°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	39.3"
Annual Snowfall	31.1"

Demographics

Metric	Cascade, IA	National Avg
Population	2,312	—
Median Age	31.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	30.4%	22.2%
65 and over	18.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bernard, IA 9 mi Worthington, IA 9 mi Farley, IA 10 mi Monticello, IA 10 mi Epworth, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Cascade

Cascade, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52033

Cascade vs Other Cities

Cascade, IA vs Bernard, IA Cascade, IA vs Worthington, IA Cascade, IA vs Farley, IA Cascade, IA vs Monticello, IA Cascade, IA vs Epworth, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cascade, IA affordable or expensive?

Cascade's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Cascade roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $173,600 and median rent is $802/month.

What is the crime rate in Cascade, IA?

Cascade's violent crime rate is 283.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1055.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cascade?

Public schools in Cascade are operated by Western Dubuque Comm School District. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 23.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cascade, IA a good place to live?

Cascade, IA has a population of 2,312, a median household income of $62,829, and an unemployment rate of 0.4%. 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 Cascade?

Cascade averages 27.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.3 inches with about 31.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Cascade?

Cascade, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52033.

What is the population of Cascade?

The population of Cascade, Iowa is 2,312 with a median age of 31.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cascade?

Key numbers for living in Cascade: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $173,600, median household income $62,829, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cascade side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.