What are the schools like in Fonda, IA?

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

What is the median household income in Fonda?

The median household income in Fonda, IA is $51,845 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

What is the weather like in Fonda, IA?

Fonda has an average high temperature of 26.4°F in January and 83.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Fonda, IA affordable or expensive?

Fonda's cost of living index is 83, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fonda is 17% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $58,300 and the median rent is $570 per month.

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

Fonda has a violent crime rate of 60.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 256.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fonda, IA a Good Place to Live?

Fonda is a small town of 624 in Iowa, with a median household income of $51,845 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 83 (US average = 100), which is 17% below the national average.

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

All Fonda 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: 83.1

Fonda's overall cost of living index is 83.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fonda costs roughly 17% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fonda, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$58,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$570	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,845	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Fonda's violent crime rate is 60.4 per 100,000 residents — 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

60.4 /100k

Property Crime

256.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Fonda, 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	18.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fonda sees average highs of 26.4°F in January and 83.2°F in July, with 33.1 inches of annual precipitation and 30.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fonda, IA
Average High — January	26.4°F
Average High — July	83.2°F
Annual Precipitation	33.1"
Annual Snowfall	30.9"

Demographics

Metric	Fonda, IA	National Avg
Population	624	—
Median Age	38.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	79.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.0%	22.2%
65 and over	18.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Varina, IA 6 mi Newell, IA 8 mi Pomeroy, IA 9 mi Jolley, IA 10 mi Lytton, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Fonda

Fonda, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50540

Fonda vs Other Cities

Fonda, IA vs Varina, IA Fonda, IA vs Newell, IA Fonda, IA vs Pomeroy, IA Fonda, IA vs Jolley, IA Fonda, IA vs Lytton, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fonda, IA affordable or expensive?

Fonda's cost of living index is 83, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fonda roughly 17% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $58,300 and median rent is $570/month.

What is the crime rate in Fonda, IA?

Fonda's violent crime rate is 60.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 256.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fonda?

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

Is Fonda, IA a good place to live?

Fonda, IA has a population of 624, a median household income of $51,845, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. 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 Fonda?

Fonda averages 26.4°F in January and 83.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.1 inches with about 30.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fonda?

Fonda, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50540.

What is the population of Fonda?

The population of Fonda, Iowa is 624 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fonda?

Key numbers for living in Fonda: cost of living index 83 (100 = US average), median home $58,300, median household income $51,845, crime index 14 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fonda side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.