What are the schools like in Dubuque, IA?

Dubuque is served primarily by Dubuque Comm School District. The district operates 12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Dubuque?

The median household income in Dubuque, IA is $63,520 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.

What is the weather like in Dubuque, IA?

Dubuque has an average high temperature of 27.5°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Dubuque, IA affordable or expensive?

Dubuque's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dubuque is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $178,000 and the median rent is $915 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Dubuque, IA?

Dubuque has a violent crime rate of 400.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1434.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dubuque, IA a Good Place to Live?

Dubuque is a mid-sized city of 59,315 in Iowa, with a median household income of $63,520 and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Dubuque stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dubuque is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Dubuque 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: 89.1

Dubuque's overall cost of living index is 89.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Dubuque costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Dubuque, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$178,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$915	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,520	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Dubuque's violent crime rate is 400.9 per 100,000 residents — 5% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

400.9 /100k

Property Crime

1434.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Dubuque is served primarily by Dubuque Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dubuque, IA	National Avg
School District	Dubuque Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	12	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	33.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dubuque sees average highs of 27.5°F in January and 84.5°F in July, with 38.8 inches of annual precipitation and 36.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dubuque, IA
Average High — January	27.5°F
Average High — July	84.5°F
Annual Precipitation	38.8"
Annual Snowfall	36.1"

Demographics

Metric	Dubuque, IA	National Avg
Population	59,315	—
Median Age	37.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	19.5%	22.2%
65 and over	20.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Sageville, IA 3 mi Asbury, IA 4 mi East Dubuque, IL 4 mi Durango, IA 6 mi Sandy Hook, WI 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Dubuque

Dubuque, IA is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

52001 52003 52002

Dubuque vs Other Cities

Dubuque, IA vs Sageville, IA Dubuque, IA vs Asbury, IA Dubuque, IA vs East Dubuque, IL Dubuque, IA vs Durango, IA Dubuque, IA vs Sandy Hook, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dubuque, IA affordable or expensive?

Dubuque's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dubuque roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $178,000 and median rent is $915/month.

What is the crime rate in Dubuque, IA?

Dubuque's violent crime rate is 400.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1434.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dubuque?

Public schools in Dubuque are operated by Dubuque Comm School District. The district has 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 33.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dubuque, IA a good place to live?

Dubuque, IA has a population of 59,315, a median household income of $63,520, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%. 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.

What is the weather like in Dubuque?

Dubuque averages 27.5°F in January and 84.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.8 inches with about 36.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dubuque?

Dubuque, IA is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 52001, 52003, 52002.

What is the population of Dubuque?

The population of Dubuque, Iowa is 59,315 with a median age of 37.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dubuque?

Key numbers for living in Dubuque: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $178,000, median household income $63,520, crime index 91 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dubuque side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.