Very AffordableVery SafeEmmetsburg Comm School District
Emmetsburg Iowa · David Morris / CC BY 2.0Emmetsburg, Iowa - Five Island Lake at sunset · David Morris / CC BY 2.0EmmetsburgIowaPopPlot · PopePompus / CC BY-SA 4.0
Emmetsburg is a small town of 3,671 in Iowa, with a median household income of $54,408
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Emmetsburg 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 Emmetsburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Emmetsburg 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: 87.3
Emmetsburg's overall cost of living index is 87.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Emmetsburg costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Emmetsburg, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$116,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$628
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,408
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Emmetsburg's violent crime rate is 305.6 per 100,000 residents
— 20% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
305.6 /100k
Property Crime
500.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Emmetsburg is served primarily by Emmetsburg Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Emmetsburg, IA
National Avg
School District
Emmetsburg Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Emmetsburg sees average highs of 26.2°F in January
and 84.8°F in July,
with 33.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 37.1 inches of snow per year.
Emmetsburg's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Emmetsburg roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $116,200 and median rent is $628/month.
Emmetsburg's violent crime rate is 305.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 500.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Emmetsburg are operated by Emmetsburg Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 18.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Emmetsburg, IA has a population of 3,671, a median household income of $54,408, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.
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.
Emmetsburg averages 26.2°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.6 inches
with about 37.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Emmetsburg, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50536.
The population of Emmetsburg, Iowa is 3,671 with a median age of 44.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Emmetsburg: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $116,200, median household income $54,408, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Emmetsburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
