Donnellson is a small town of 920 in Iowa, with a median household income of $51,953
and a 1.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Donnellson 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 Donnellson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Donnellson 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: 89.0
Donnellson's overall cost of living index is 89.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Donnellson costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Donnellson, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$128,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$731
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,953
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Donnellson's violent crime rate is 261.5 per 100,000 residents
— 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
261.5 /100k
Property Crime
1206.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Donnellson is served primarily by Central Lee Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Donnellson, IA
National Avg
School District
Central Lee Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Donnellson sees average highs of 32.8°F in January
and 86.4°F in July,
with 39.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 26.6 inches of snow per year.
Donnellson's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Donnellson roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $128,700 and median rent is $731/month.
Donnellson's violent crime rate is 261.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1206.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Donnellson are operated by Central Lee Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. 23.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Donnellson, IA has a population of 920, a median household income of $51,953, and an unemployment rate of 1.7%.
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.
Donnellson averages 32.8°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.2 inches
with about 26.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Donnellson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52625.
The population of Donnellson, Iowa is 920 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Donnellson: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $128,700, median household income $51,953, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Donnellson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
