Diagonal is a small town of 463 in Iowa, with a median household income of $85,000
.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Diagonal 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 Diagonal is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Diagonal 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
Diagonal's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Diagonal costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Diagonal, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$85,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$825
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
87.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$85,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Diagonal's violent crime rate is 61.3 per 100,000 residents
— 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
61.3 /100k
Property Crime
326.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Diagonal is served primarily by Diagonal Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Diagonal, IA
National Avg
School District
Diagonal Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Diagonal sees average highs of 31.9°F in January
and 84.6°F in July,
with 37.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 20.5 inches of snow per year.
Diagonal's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Diagonal roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $85,600 and median rent is $825/month.
Diagonal's violent crime rate is 61.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 326.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Diagonal are operated by Diagonal Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1. 18.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Diagonal, IA has a population of 463, a median household income of $85,000, 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.
Diagonal averages 31.9°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.0 inches
with about 20.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Diagonal, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50845.
The population of Diagonal, Iowa is 463 with a median age of 51.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Diagonal: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $85,600, median household income $85,000, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Diagonal side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
