Is Clinton, IA a Good Place to Live?
Clinton is a small city of 24,524 in Iowa, with a median household income of $55,196 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.
Strengths: Clinton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Clinton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Clinton 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: 88.5Clinton's overall cost of living index is 88.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clinton costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Clinton, IA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $112,700 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $746 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $55,196 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageClinton's violent crime rate is 359.9 per 100,000 residents — 5% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clinton is served primarily by Clinton Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Clinton, IA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Clinton Comm School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 4 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 13.5:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.2% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 89.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Clinton sees average highs of 29.4°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 38.2 inches of annual precipitation and 31.9 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Clinton, IA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 29.4°F |
| Average High — July | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.9" |
Demographics
| Metric | Clinton, IA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,524 | — |
| Median Age | 42.8 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 18.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 89.0% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 5.2% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.3% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 20.2% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Clinton
Clinton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: