What are the schools like in Elkader, IA?

Elkader is served primarily by Central Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Elkader?

The median household income in Elkader, IA is $62,574 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.0%.

What is the weather like in Elkader, IA?

Elkader has an average high temperature of 26.3°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Elkader, IA affordable or expensive?

Elkader's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elkader is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $129,500 and the median rent is $780 per month.

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

Elkader has a violent crime rate of 62.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 159.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elkader, IA a Good Place to Live?

Elkader is a small town of 1,326 in Iowa, with a median household income of $62,574 and a 1.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

All Elkader 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: 89.6

Elkader's overall cost of living index is 89.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elkader costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elkader, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$129,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$780	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	68.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,574	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Elkader's violent crime rate is 62.7 per 100,000 residents — 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

62.7 /100k

Property Crime

159.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Elkader is served primarily by Central Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elkader, IA	National Avg
School District	Central Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elkader sees average highs of 26.3°F in January and 82.2°F in July, with 38.8 inches of annual precipitation and 35.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elkader, IA
Average High — January	26.3°F
Average High — July	82.2°F
Annual Precipitation	38.8"
Annual Snowfall	35.6"

Demographics

Metric	Elkader, IA	National Avg
Population	1,326	—
Median Age	41.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.3%	22.2%
65 and over	25.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

St. Olaf, IA 5 mi Farmersburg, IA 7 mi Volga, IA 8 mi Garnavillo, IA 8 mi Elkport, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Elkader

Elkader, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52043

Elkader vs Other Cities

Elkader, IA vs St. Olaf, IA Elkader, IA vs Farmersburg, IA Elkader, IA vs Volga, IA Elkader, IA vs Garnavillo, IA Elkader, IA vs Elkport, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elkader, IA affordable or expensive?

Elkader's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elkader roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $129,500 and median rent is $780/month.

What is the crime rate in Elkader, IA?

Elkader's violent crime rate is 62.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 159.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Elkader?

Public schools in Elkader are operated by Central Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 26.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elkader, IA a good place to live?

Elkader, IA has a population of 1,326, a median household income of $62,574, and an unemployment rate of 1.0%. 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 Elkader?

Elkader averages 26.3°F in January and 82.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.8 inches with about 35.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elkader?

Elkader, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52043.

What is the population of Elkader?

The population of Elkader, Iowa is 1,326 with a median age of 41.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elkader?

Key numbers for living in Elkader: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $129,500, median household income $62,574, crime index 13 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elkader side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.