What are the schools like in Cresco, IA?

Cresco is served primarily by Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Cresco?

The median household income in Cresco, IA is $60,135 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Cresco, IA?

Cresco has an average high temperature of 24.2°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Cresco, IA affordable or expensive?

Cresco's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Cresco is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $102,300 and the median rent is $798 per month.

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

Cresco has a violent crime rate of 102.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 128.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Cresco, IA a Good Place to Live?

Cresco is a small town of 3,899 in Iowa, with a median household income of $60,135 . Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Cresco 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 Cresco is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Cresco 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: 88.6

Cresco's overall cost of living index is 88.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cresco costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Cresco, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$102,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$798	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,135	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Cresco's violent crime rate is 102.7 per 100,000 residents — 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

102.7 /100k

Property Crime

128.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Cresco is served primarily by Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Cresco, IA	National Avg
School District	Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Cresco sees average highs of 24.2°F in January and 82.8°F in July, with 38.0 inches of annual precipitation and 40.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Cresco, IA
Average High — January	24.2°F
Average High — July	82.8°F
Annual Precipitation	38.0"
Annual Snowfall	40.3"

Demographics

Metric	Cresco, IA	National Avg
Population	3,899	—
Median Age	39.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	23.6%	22.2%
65 and over	20.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ridgeway, IA 8 mi Lime Springs, IA 10 mi Protivin, IA 11 mi Harmony, MN 14 mi Burr Oak, IA 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Cresco

Cresco, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52136

Cresco vs Other Cities

Cresco, IA vs Ridgeway, IA Cresco, IA vs Lime Springs, IA Cresco, IA vs Protivin, IA Cresco, IA vs Harmony, MN Cresco, IA vs Burr Oak, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cresco, IA affordable or expensive?

Cresco's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Cresco roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $102,300 and median rent is $798/month.

What is the crime rate in Cresco, IA?

Cresco's violent crime rate is 102.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 128.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Cresco?

Public schools in Cresco are operated by Howard-Winneshiek Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Cresco, IA a good place to live?

Cresco, IA has a population of 3,899, a median household income of $60,135, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. 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 Cresco?

Cresco averages 24.2°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.0 inches with about 40.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Cresco?

Cresco, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52136.

What is the population of Cresco?

The population of Cresco, Iowa is 3,899 with a median age of 39.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Cresco?

Key numbers for living in Cresco: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $102,300, median household income $60,135, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Cresco side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.