Below Average CostVery SafeColo-NESCO Comm School District
Colo Iowa 20090816 Welcome Sign · Richc80 / CC BY 3.0Hickory Grove Park (2017) · Chipchicken / CC BY-SA 4.0Motel and cafe in Colo, Iowa · David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA / CC BY 2.0
Colo is a small town of 838 in Iowa, with a median household income of $77,188
and a 4.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Colo 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 Colo is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Colo 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
Colo's overall cost of living index is 91.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Colo costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Colo, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$144,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,016
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
84.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$77,188
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Colo'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
Colo is served primarily by Colo-NESCO Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Colo, IA
National Avg
School District
Colo-NESCO Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Colo 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.
Colo's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Colo roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $144,300 and median rent is $1,016/month.
Colo'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.
Public schools in Colo are operated by Colo-NESCO Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1. 20.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Colo, IA has a population of 838, a median household income of $77,188, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%.
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.
Colo 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).
Colo, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50056.
The population of Colo, Iowa is 838 with a median age of 42.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Colo: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $144,300, median household income $77,188, 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 Colo side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
.jpg)
