Dallas Center is a small town of 1,770 in Iowa, with a median household income of $78,939
and a 1.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dallas Center stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dallas Center is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dallas Center 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: 92.7
Dallas Center's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dallas Center costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dallas Center, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$209,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$750
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$78,939
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Dallas Center's violent crime rate is 155.2 per 100,000 residents
— 59% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
155.2 /100k
Property Crime
422.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dallas Center is served primarily by Dallas Center-Grimes Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dallas Center, IA
National Avg
School District
Dallas Center-Grimes Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
29.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dallas Center sees average highs of 29.5°F in January
and 85.4°F in July,
with 37.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.0 inches of snow per year.
Dallas Center's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dallas Center roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $209,500 and median rent is $750/month.
Dallas Center's violent crime rate is 155.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 422.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dallas Center are operated by Dallas Center-Grimes Comm School District.
The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 29.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dallas Center, IA has a population of 1,770, a median household income of $78,939, and an unemployment rate of 1.1%.
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.
Dallas Center averages 29.5°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.7 inches
with about 38.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dallas Center, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50063.
The population of Dallas Center, Iowa is 1,770 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dallas Center: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $209,500, median household income $78,939, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dallas Center side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
