Ferguson is a small town of 102 in Iowa, with a median household income of $46,250
and a 32.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ferguson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ferguson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ferguson 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: 84.9
Ferguson's overall cost of living index is 84.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ferguson costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ferguson, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$51,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$775
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ferguson's violent crime rate is 208.3 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
208.3 /100k
Property Crime
1242.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Ferguson, 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
2.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ferguson sees average highs of 27.5°F in January
and 83.5°F in July,
with 37.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.7 inches of snow per year.
Ferguson's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ferguson roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $51,000 and median rent is $775/month.
Ferguson's violent crime rate is 208.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1242.1 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.
Ferguson, IA has a population of 102, a median household income of $46,250, and an unemployment rate of 32.1%.
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.
Ferguson averages 27.5°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.2 inches
with about 27.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ferguson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50078.
The population of Ferguson, Iowa is 102 with a median age of 56.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ferguson: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $51,000, median household income $46,250, crime index 57 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ferguson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
