What are the schools like in Cherokee, IA?

Cherokee is served primarily by Cherokee Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in Cherokee?

The median household income in Cherokee, IA is $51,651 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.7%.

What is the weather like in Cherokee, IA?

Cherokee has an average high temperature of 26.7°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Cherokee, IA affordable or expensive?

Cherokee's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cherokee is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $120,700 and the median rent is $614 per month.

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

Cherokee has a violent crime rate of 213.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 329.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cherokee, IA a Good Place to Live?

Cherokee is a small town of 5,154 in Iowa, with a median household income of $51,651 and a 3.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Cherokee 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: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Cherokee is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Cherokee 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

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

Metric	Cherokee, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$120,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$614	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,651	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Cherokee's violent crime rate is 213.3 per 100,000 residents — 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

213.3 /100k

Property Crime

329.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Cherokee is served primarily by Cherokee Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cherokee, IA	National Avg
School District	Cherokee Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cherokee sees average highs of 26.7°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 31.2 inches of annual precipitation and 37.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cherokee, IA
Average High — January	26.7°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	31.2"
Annual Snowfall	37.8"

Demographics

Metric	Cherokee, IA	National Avg
Population	5,154	—
Median Age	45.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.4%	22.2%
65 and over	25.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Meriden, IA 5 mi Aurelia, IA 6 mi Larrabee, IA 8 mi Cleghorn, IA 9 mi Quimby, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Cherokee

Cherokee, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51012

Cherokee vs Other Cities

Cherokee, IA vs Meriden, IA Cherokee, IA vs Aurelia, IA Cherokee, IA vs Larrabee, IA Cherokee, IA vs Cleghorn, IA Cherokee, IA vs Quimby, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cherokee, IA affordable or expensive?

Cherokee's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Cherokee roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $120,700 and median rent is $614/month.

What is the crime rate in Cherokee, IA?

Cherokee's violent crime rate is 213.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 329.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cherokee?

Public schools in Cherokee are operated by Cherokee Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 19.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cherokee, IA a good place to live?

Cherokee, IA has a population of 5,154, a median household income of $51,651, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%. 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 Cherokee?

Cherokee averages 26.7°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.2 inches with about 37.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Cherokee?

Cherokee, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51012.

What is the population of Cherokee?

The population of Cherokee, Iowa is 5,154 with a median age of 45.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cherokee?

Key numbers for living in Cherokee: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $120,700, median household income $51,651, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cherokee side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.