Dawson is a small town of 119 in Iowa, with a median household income of $61,964
.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dawson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dawson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dawson 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
Dawson's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dawson costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dawson, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$77,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$588
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$61,964
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Dawson'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
Metric
Dawson, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
7.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dawson sees average highs of 29.5°F in January
and 85.4°F in July,
with 34.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 32.8 inches of snow per year.
Dawson's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dawson roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $77,100 and median rent is $588/month.
Dawson'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.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Dawson, IA has a population of 119, a median household income of $61,964, 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.
Dawson averages 29.5°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.3 inches
with about 32.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dawson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50066.
The population of Dawson, Iowa is 119 with a median age of 32.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dawson: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $77,100, median household income $61,964, crime index 33 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dawson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
