Garwin is a small town of 614 in Iowa, with a median household income of $57,386
and a 1.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Garwin stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Garwin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Garwin 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: 86.0
Garwin's overall cost of living index is 86.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Garwin costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Garwin, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$85,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$646
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
78.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,386
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Garwin's violent crime rate is 148.3 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
148.3 /100k
Property Crime
249.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Garwin is served primarily by GMG Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Garwin, IA
National Avg
School District
GMG Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Garwin sees average highs of 26.8°F in January
and 83.0°F in July,
with 36.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.0 inches of snow per year.
Garwin's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Garwin roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $85,800 and median rent is $646/month.
Garwin's violent crime rate is 148.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 249.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Garwin are operated by GMG Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1. 8.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Garwin, IA has a population of 614, a median household income of $57,386, and an unemployment rate of 1.1%.
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.
Garwin averages 26.8°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.6 inches
with about 28.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Garwin, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50632.
The population of Garwin, Iowa is 614 with a median age of 45.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Garwin: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $85,800, median household income $57,386, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Garwin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
