What are the schools like in Early, IA?

Early is served primarily by Schaller-Crestland Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.2:1.

What is the median household income in Early?

The median household income in Early, IA is $85,357 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.6%.

What is the weather like in Early, IA?

Early has an average high temperature of 26.4°F in January and 83.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Early, IA affordable or expensive?

Early's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Early is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $79,400 and the median rent is $585 per month.

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

Early has a violent crime rate of 246.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 596.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Early, IA a Good Place to Live?

Early is a small town of 787 in Iowa, with a median household income of $85,357 and a 9.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Early is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Early 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: 84.9

Early's overall cost of living index is 84.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Early costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric	Early, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$79,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$585	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$85,357	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Early's violent crime rate is 246.9 per 100,000 residents — 35% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

246.9 /100k

Property Crime

596.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Early is served primarily by Schaller-Crestland Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Early, IA	National Avg
School District	Schaller-Crestland Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Early sees average highs of 26.4°F in January and 83.2°F in July, with 33.1 inches of annual precipitation and 30.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Early, IA
Average High — January	26.4°F
Average High — July	83.2°F
Annual Precipitation	33.1"
Annual Snowfall	30.9"

Demographics

Metric	Early, IA	National Avg
Population	787	—
Median Age	42.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.9%	22.2%
65 and over	12.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Nemaha, IA 5 mi Schaller, IA 8 mi Sac City, IA 8 mi Lakeside, IA 11 mi Odebolt, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Early

Early, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50535

Early vs Other Cities

Early, IA vs Nemaha, IA Early, IA vs Schaller, IA Early, IA vs Sac City, IA Early, IA vs Lakeside, IA Early, IA vs Odebolt, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Early, IA affordable or expensive?

Early's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Early roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $79,400 and median rent is $585/month.

What is the crime rate in Early, IA?

Early's violent crime rate is 246.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 596.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Early?

Public schools in Early are operated by Schaller-Crestland Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 14.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Early, IA a good place to live?

Early, IA has a population of 787, a median household income of $85,357, and an unemployment rate of 9.6%. 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 Early?

Early averages 26.4°F in January and 83.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.1 inches with about 30.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Early?

Early, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50535.

What is the population of Early?

The population of Early, Iowa is 787 with a median age of 42.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Early?

Key numbers for living in Early: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $79,400, median household income $85,357, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Early side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.