What are the schools like in Emerson, IA?

School district data for Emerson is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Emerson?

The median household income in Emerson, IA is $58,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.9%.

What is the weather like in Emerson, IA?

Emerson has an average high temperature of 32.8°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 19.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Emerson, IA affordable or expensive?

Emerson's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Emerson is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $106,500 and the median rent is $850 per month.

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

Emerson has a violent crime rate of 66.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 794.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Emerson, IA a Good Place to Live?

Emerson is a small town of 508 in Iowa, with a median household income of $58,750 and a 6.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Emerson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

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

All Emerson 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: 92.5

Emerson's overall cost of living index is 92.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Emerson costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Emerson, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$106,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$850	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	84.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Emerson's violent crime rate is 66.2 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

66.2 /100k

Property Crime

794.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Emerson, IA	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Emerson sees average highs of 32.8°F in January and 86.3°F in July, with 34.9 inches of annual precipitation and 19.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Emerson, IA
Average High — January	32.8°F
Average High — July	86.3°F
Annual Precipitation	34.9"
Annual Snowfall	19.6"

Demographics

Metric	Emerson, IA	National Avg
Population	508	—
Median Age	48.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	21.9%	22.2%
65 and over	22.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hastings, IA 5 mi Henderson, IA 9 mi Red Oak, IA 9 mi Malvern, IA 10 mi Imogene, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Emerson

Emerson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51533

Emerson vs Other Cities

Emerson, IA vs Hastings, IA Emerson, IA vs Henderson, IA Emerson, IA vs Red Oak, IA Emerson, IA vs Malvern, IA Emerson, IA vs Imogene, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emerson, IA affordable or expensive?

Emerson's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Emerson roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $106,500 and median rent is $850/month.

What is the crime rate in Emerson, IA?

Emerson's violent crime rate is 66.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 794.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Emerson?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Emerson, IA a good place to live?

Emerson, IA has a population of 508, a median household income of $58,750, and an unemployment rate of 6.9%. 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 Emerson?

Emerson averages 32.8°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.9 inches with about 19.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Emerson?

Emerson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51533.

What is the population of Emerson?

The population of Emerson, Iowa is 508 with a median age of 48.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Emerson?

Key numbers for living in Emerson: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $106,500, median household income $58,750, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Emerson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.