Fayette is a small town of 1,179 in Iowa, with a median household income of $39,375
and a 10.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fayette 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 Fayette is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fayette 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: 90.0
Fayette's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fayette costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fayette, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$108,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$923
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,375
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Fayette's violent crime rate is 162.8 per 100,000 residents
— 57% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
162.8 /100k
Property Crime
254.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Fayette, 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
28.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fayette sees average highs of 24.5°F in January
and 81.6°F in July,
with 39.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 41.1 inches of snow per year.
Fayette's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fayette roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $108,300 and median rent is $923/month.
Fayette's violent crime rate is 162.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 254.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Fayette, IA has a population of 1,179, a median household income of $39,375, and an unemployment rate of 10.0%.
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.
Fayette averages 24.5°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.5 inches
with about 41.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fayette, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52142.
The population of Fayette, Iowa is 1,179 with a median age of 28.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fayette: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $108,300, median household income $39,375, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fayette side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
