What are the schools like in Creston, IA?

Creston is served primarily by Creston Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.2:1.

What is the median household income in Creston?

The median household income in Creston, IA is $51,366 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.

What is the weather like in Creston, IA?

Creston has an average high temperature of 30.5°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Creston, IA affordable or expensive?

Creston's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Creston is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $110,300 and the median rent is $706 per month.

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

Creston has a violent crime rate of 272.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1034.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Creston, IA a Good Place to Live?

Creston is a small town of 7,519 in Iowa, with a median household income of $51,366 and a 4.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

All Creston 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: 88.0

Creston's overall cost of living index is 88.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Creston costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Creston, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$110,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$706	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,366	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Creston's violent crime rate is 272.3 per 100,000 residents — 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

272.3 /100k

Property Crime

1034.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Creston is served primarily by Creston Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Creston, IA	National Avg
School District	Creston Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Creston sees average highs of 30.5°F in January and 84.7°F in July, with 38.0 inches of annual precipitation and 25.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Creston, IA
Average High — January	30.5°F
Average High — July	84.7°F
Annual Precipitation	38.0"
Annual Snowfall	25.5"

Demographics

Metric	Creston, IA	National Avg
Population	7,519	—
Median Age	38.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	11.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	20.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cromwell, IA 5 mi Kent, IA 9 mi Afton, IA 9 mi Orient, IA 10 mi Arispe, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Creston

Creston, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50801

Creston vs Other Cities

Creston, IA vs Cromwell, IA Creston, IA vs Kent, IA Creston, IA vs Afton, IA Creston, IA vs Orient, IA Creston, IA vs Arispe, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Creston, IA affordable or expensive?

Creston's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Creston roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $110,300 and median rent is $706/month.

What is the crime rate in Creston, IA?

Creston's violent crime rate is 272.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1034.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Creston?

Public schools in Creston are operated by Creston Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 26.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Creston, IA a good place to live?

Creston, IA has a population of 7,519, a median household income of $51,366, and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. 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 Creston?

Creston averages 30.5°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.0 inches with about 25.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Creston?

Creston, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50801.

What is the population of Creston?

The population of Creston, Iowa is 7,519 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Creston?

Key numbers for living in Creston: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $110,300, median household income $51,366, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Creston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.