What are the schools like in De Soto, IA?

De Soto is served primarily by Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in De Soto?

The median household income in De Soto, IA is $86,071 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

What is the weather like in De Soto, IA?

De Soto has an average high temperature of 29.9°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.7 inches.

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

Q: Is De Soto, IA affordable or expensive?

De Soto's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means De Soto is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $194,000 and the median rent is $825 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in De Soto, IA?

De Soto has a violent crime rate of 426.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2561.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is De Soto, IA a Good Place to Live?

De Soto is a small town of 925 in Iowa, with a median household income of $86,071 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

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

All De Soto 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

De Soto's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in De Soto costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	De Soto, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$194,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$825	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$86,071	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

De Soto's violent crime rate is 426.9 per 100,000 residents — 12% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

426.9 /100k

Property Crime

2561.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

De Soto is served primarily by Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	De Soto, IA	National Avg
School District	Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	30.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

De Soto sees average highs of 29.9°F in January and 83.8°F in July, with 37.3 inches of annual precipitation and 30.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	De Soto, IA
Average High — January	29.9°F
Average High — July	83.8°F
Annual Precipitation	37.3"
Annual Snowfall	30.7"

Demographics

Metric	De Soto, IA	National Avg
Population	925	—
Median Age	34.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	4.2%	6.3%
Under 18	29.1%	22.2%
65 and over	15.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Van Meter, IA 4 mi Adel, IA 5 mi Earlham, IA 7 mi Waukee, IA 8 mi Redfield, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in De Soto

De Soto, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50069

De Soto vs Other Cities

De Soto, IA vs Van Meter, IA De Soto, IA vs Adel, IA De Soto, IA vs Earlham, IA De Soto, IA vs Waukee, IA De Soto, IA vs Redfield, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is De Soto, IA affordable or expensive?

De Soto's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes De Soto roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $194,000 and median rent is $825/month.

What is the crime rate in De Soto, IA?

De Soto's violent crime rate is 426.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2561.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in De Soto?

Public schools in De Soto are operated by Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 30.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is De Soto, IA a good place to live?

De Soto, IA has a population of 925, a median household income of $86,071, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. 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 De Soto?

De Soto averages 29.9°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.3 inches with about 30.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in De Soto?

De Soto, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50069.

What is the population of De Soto?

The population of De Soto, Iowa is 925 with a median age of 34.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in De Soto?

Key numbers for living in De Soto: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $194,000, median household income $86,071, crime index 116 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare De Soto side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.