Castana is a small town of 177 in Iowa, with a median household income of $60,417
and a 4.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Castana stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Castana is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Castana 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: 85.0
Castana's overall cost of living index is 85.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Castana costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Castana, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$65,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$675
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
87.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,417
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Castana's violent crime rate is 127.7 per 100,000 residents
— 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
127.7 /100k
Property Crime
835.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Castana, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
3.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Castana sees average highs of 28.6°F in January
and 83.7°F in July,
with 32.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.6 inches of snow per year.
Castana's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Castana roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $65,000 and median rent is $675/month.
Castana's violent crime rate is 127.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 835.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Castana, IA has a population of 177, a median household income of $60,417, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%.
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.
Castana averages 28.6°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.1 inches
with about 28.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Castana, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51010.
The population of Castana, Iowa is 177 with a median age of 54.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Castana: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $65,000, median household income $60,417, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Castana side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
