Gilmore City is a small town of 609 in Iowa, with a median household income of $50,208
and a 1.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Gilmore City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Gilmore City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Gilmore City 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: 85.5
Gilmore City's overall cost of living index is 85.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Gilmore City costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Gilmore City, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$77,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$643
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
69.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,208
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Gilmore City's violent crime rate is 62.8 per 100,000 residents
— 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
62.8 /100k
Property Crime
533.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Gilmore City is served primarily by Gilmore City-Bradgate Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Gilmore City, IA
National Avg
School District
Gilmore City-Bradgate Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Gilmore City sees average highs of 24.4°F in January
and 81.1°F in July,
with 35.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 38.8 inches of snow per year.
Gilmore City's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Gilmore City roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $77,500 and median rent is $643/month.
Gilmore City's violent crime rate is 62.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 533.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Gilmore City are operated by Gilmore City-Bradgate Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 14.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Gilmore City, IA has a population of 609, a median household income of $50,208, 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.
Gilmore City averages 24.4°F in January and 81.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.0 inches
with about 38.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Gilmore City, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50541.
The population of Gilmore City, Iowa is 609 with a median age of 34.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Gilmore City: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $77,500, median household income $50,208, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gilmore City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
