What are the schools like in Fenton, IA?

Fenton is served primarily by North Union Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.9:1.

What is the median household income in Fenton?

The median household income in Fenton, IA is $53,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.1%.

What is the weather like in Fenton, IA?

Fenton has an average high temperature of 24.9°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Fenton, IA affordable or expensive?

Fenton's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fenton is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $48,600 and the median rent is $722 per month.

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

Fenton has a violent crime rate of 33.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 47.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fenton, IA a Good Place to Live?

Fenton is a small town of 248 in Iowa, with a median household income of $53,250 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

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

All Fenton 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: 84.1

Fenton's overall cost of living index is 84.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fenton costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fenton, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$48,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$722	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	90.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Fenton's violent crime rate is 33.8 per 100,000 residents — 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

33.8 /100k

Property Crime

47.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Fenton is served primarily by North Union Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fenton, IA	National Avg
School District	North Union Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fenton sees average highs of 24.9°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 34.0 inches of annual precipitation and 37.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fenton, IA
Average High — January	24.9°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	34.0"
Annual Snowfall	37.1"

Demographics

Metric	Fenton, IA	National Avg
Population	248	—
Median Age	60.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	8.9%	22.2%
65 and over	39.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lone Rock, IA 5 mi Ringsted, IA 7 mi Burt, IA 10 mi Whittemore, IA 11 mi Cylinder, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Fenton

Fenton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50539

Fenton vs Other Cities

Fenton, IA vs Lone Rock, IA Fenton, IA vs Ringsted, IA Fenton, IA vs Burt, IA Fenton, IA vs Whittemore, IA Fenton, IA vs Cylinder, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fenton, IA affordable or expensive?

Fenton's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fenton roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $48,600 and median rent is $722/month.

What is the crime rate in Fenton, IA?

Fenton's violent crime rate is 33.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 47.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fenton?

Public schools in Fenton are operated by North Union Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fenton, IA a good place to live?

Fenton, IA has a population of 248, a median household income of $53,250, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%. 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.

What is the weather like in Fenton?

Fenton averages 24.9°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.0 inches with about 37.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fenton?

Fenton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50539.

What is the population of Fenton?

The population of Fenton, Iowa is 248 with a median age of 60.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fenton?

Key numbers for living in Fenton: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $48,600, median household income $53,250, crime index 6 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fenton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.