What are the schools like in Centerville, IA?

Centerville is served primarily by Centerville Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Centerville?

The median household income in Centerville, IA is $42,064 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.8%.

What is the weather like in Centerville, IA?

Centerville has an average high temperature of 32.7°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Centerville, IA affordable or expensive?

Centerville's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Centerville is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $89,400 and the median rent is $736 per month.

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

Centerville has a violent crime rate of 263.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1052.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Centerville, IA a Good Place to Live?

Centerville is a small town of 5,393 in Iowa, with a median household income of $42,064 and a 8.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Centerville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Centerville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Centerville 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: 87.3

Centerville's overall cost of living index is 87.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Centerville costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Centerville, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$89,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$736	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$42,064	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Centerville's violent crime rate is 263.0 per 100,000 residents — 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

263.0 /100k

Property Crime

1052.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Centerville is served primarily by Centerville Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Centerville, IA	National Avg
School District	Centerville Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Centerville sees average highs of 32.7°F in January and 85.8°F in July, with 36.0 inches of annual precipitation and 21.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Centerville, IA
Average High — January	32.7°F
Average High — July	85.8°F
Annual Precipitation	36.0"
Annual Snowfall	21.5"

Demographics

Metric	Centerville, IA	National Avg
Population	5,393	—
Median Age	45.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	21.1%	22.2%
65 and over	24.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rathbun, IA 5 mi Mystic, IA 5 mi Exline, IA 6 mi Numa, IA 6 mi Cincinnati, IA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Centerville

Centerville, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52544

Centerville vs Other Cities

Centerville, IA vs Rathbun, IA Centerville, IA vs Mystic, IA Centerville, IA vs Exline, IA Centerville, IA vs Numa, IA Centerville, IA vs Cincinnati, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Centerville, IA affordable or expensive?

Centerville's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Centerville roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $89,400 and median rent is $736/month.

What is the crime rate in Centerville, IA?

Centerville's violent crime rate is 263.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1052.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Centerville?

Public schools in Centerville are operated by Centerville Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 14.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Centerville, IA a good place to live?

Centerville, IA has a population of 5,393, a median household income of $42,064, and an unemployment rate of 8.8%. 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 Centerville?

Centerville averages 32.7°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.0 inches with about 21.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Centerville?

Centerville, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52544.

What is the population of Centerville?

The population of Centerville, Iowa is 5,393 with a median age of 45.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Centerville?

Key numbers for living in Centerville: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $89,400, median household income $42,064, crime index 62 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Centerville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.