What are the schools like in Collins, IA?

Collins is served primarily by Collins-Maxwell Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.4:1.

What is the median household income in Collins?

The median household income in Collins, IA is $69,844 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.3%.

What is the weather like in Collins, IA?

Collins has an average high temperature of 26.9°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Collins, IA affordable or expensive?

Collins's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Collins is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $127,500 and the median rent is $975 per month.

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

Collins has a violent crime rate of 118.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1179.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Collins, IA a Good Place to Live?

Collins is a small town of 483 in Iowa, with a median household income of $69,844 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

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

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

All Collins 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: 91.4

Collins's overall cost of living index is 91.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Collins costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Collins, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$127,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$975	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,844	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Collins's violent crime rate is 118.4 per 100,000 residents — 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

118.4 /100k

Property Crime

1179.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Collins is served primarily by Collins-Maxwell Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Collins, IA	National Avg
School District	Collins-Maxwell Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Collins sees average highs of 26.9°F in January and 83.0°F in July, with 36.5 inches of annual precipitation and 30.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Collins, IA
Average High — January	26.9°F
Average High — July	83.0°F
Annual Precipitation	36.5"
Annual Snowfall	30.6"

Demographics

Metric	Collins, IA	National Avg
Population	483	—
Median Age	39.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	23.4%	22.2%
65 and over	12.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Maxwell, IA 5 mi Rhodes, IA 7 mi Colo, IA 8 mi Mingo, IA 9 mi Baxter, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Collins

Collins, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50055

Collins vs Other Cities

Collins, IA vs Maxwell, IA Collins, IA vs Rhodes, IA Collins, IA vs Colo, IA Collins, IA vs Mingo, IA Collins, IA vs Baxter, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Collins, IA affordable or expensive?

Collins's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Collins roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $127,500 and median rent is $975/month.

What is the crime rate in Collins, IA?

Collins's violent crime rate is 118.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1179.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Collins?

Public schools in Collins are operated by Collins-Maxwell Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.4:1. 12.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Collins, IA a good place to live?

Collins, IA has a population of 483, a median household income of $69,844, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%. 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 Collins?

Collins averages 26.9°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.5 inches with about 30.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Collins?

Collins, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50055.

What is the population of Collins?

The population of Collins, Iowa is 483 with a median age of 39.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Collins?

Key numbers for living in Collins: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $127,500, median household income $69,844, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Collins side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.