What are the schools like in Clarence, IA?

Clarence is served primarily by North Cedar Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.3:1.

What is the median household income in Clarence?

The median household income in Clarence, IA is $63,594 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.1%.

What is the weather like in Clarence, IA?

Clarence has an average high temperature of 29.1°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Clarence, IA affordable or expensive?

Clarence's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clarence is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $137,200 and the median rent is $854 per month.

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

Clarence has a violent crime rate of 201.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of None per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clarence, IA a Good Place to Live?

Clarence is a small town of 1,136 in Iowa, with a median household income of $63,594 and a 1.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Clarence stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).

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

All Clarence 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: 90.6

Clarence's overall cost of living index is 90.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clarence costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Clarence, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$137,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$854	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,594	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Clarence's violent crime rate is 201.4 per 100,000 residents — 47% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

201.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Clarence is served primarily by North Cedar Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clarence, IA	National Avg
School District	North Cedar Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clarence sees average highs of 29.1°F in January and 85.2°F in July, with 39.6 inches of annual precipitation and 39.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clarence, IA
Average High — January	29.1°F
Average High — July	85.2°F
Annual Precipitation	39.6"
Annual Snowfall	39.8"

Demographics

Metric	Clarence, IA	National Avg
Population	1,136	—
Median Age	45.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	99.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.4%	22.2%
65 and over	20.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Stanwood, IA 5 mi Lowden, IA 7 mi Oxford Junction, IA 9 mi Tipton, IA 9 mi Olin, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Clarence

Clarence, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52216

Clarence vs Other Cities

Clarence, IA vs Stanwood, IA Clarence, IA vs Lowden, IA Clarence, IA vs Oxford Junction, IA Clarence, IA vs Tipton, IA Clarence, IA vs Olin, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clarence, IA affordable or expensive?

Clarence's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clarence roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $137,200 and median rent is $854/month.

What is the crime rate in Clarence, IA?

Clarence's violent crime rate is 201.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is None per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Clarence?

Public schools in Clarence are operated by North Cedar Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1. 16.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clarence, IA a good place to live?

Clarence, IA has a population of 1,136, a median household income of $63,594, and an unemployment rate of 1.1%. 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 Clarence?

Clarence averages 29.1°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.6 inches with about 39.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Clarence?

Clarence, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52216.

What is the population of Clarence?

The population of Clarence, Iowa is 1,136 with a median age of 45.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Clarence?

Key numbers for living in Clarence: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $137,200, median household income $63,594, schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clarence side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.