What are the schools like in Glenwood, IA?

Glenwood is served primarily by Glenwood Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.6:1.

What is the median household income in Glenwood?

The median household income in Glenwood, IA is $65,833 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.1%.

What is the weather like in Glenwood, IA?

Glenwood has an average high temperature of 33.0°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Glenwood, IA affordable or expensive?

Glenwood's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Glenwood is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $189,100 and the median rent is $758 per month.

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

Glenwood has a violent crime rate of 57.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 670.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Glenwood, IA a Good Place to Live?

Glenwood is a small town of 5,128 in Iowa, with a median household income of $65,833 and a 7.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Glenwood stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Glenwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Glenwood 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: 92.5

Glenwood's overall cost of living index is 92.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Glenwood costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Glenwood, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$189,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$758	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,833	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Glenwood's violent crime rate is 57.5 per 100,000 residents — 85% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

57.5 /100k

Property Crime

670.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Glenwood is served primarily by Glenwood Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Glenwood, IA	National Avg
School District	Glenwood Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Glenwood sees average highs of 33.0°F in January and 86.9°F in July, with 34.8 inches of annual precipitation and 23.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Glenwood, IA
Average High — January	33.0°F
Average High — July	86.9°F
Annual Precipitation	34.8"
Annual Snowfall	23.7"

Demographics

Metric	Glenwood, IA	National Avg
Population	5,128	—
Median Age	43.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	18.7%	22.2%
65 and over	25.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pacific Junction, IA 4 mi Silver City, IA 7 mi Mineola, IA 7 mi Plattsmouth, NE 8 mi Malvern, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Glenwood

Glenwood, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51534

Glenwood vs Other Cities

Glenwood, IA vs Pacific Junction, IA Glenwood, IA vs Silver City, IA Glenwood, IA vs Mineola, IA Glenwood, IA vs Plattsmouth, NE Glenwood, IA vs Malvern, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Glenwood, IA affordable or expensive?

Glenwood's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Glenwood roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $189,100 and median rent is $758/month.

What is the crime rate in Glenwood, IA?

Glenwood's violent crime rate is 57.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 670.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Glenwood?

Public schools in Glenwood are operated by Glenwood Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 23.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Glenwood, IA a good place to live?

Glenwood, IA has a population of 5,128, a median household income of $65,833, and an unemployment rate of 7.1%. 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 Glenwood?

Glenwood averages 33.0°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.8 inches with about 23.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Glenwood?

Glenwood, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51534.

What is the population of Glenwood?

The population of Glenwood, Iowa is 5,128 with a median age of 43.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Glenwood?

Key numbers for living in Glenwood: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $189,100, median household income $65,833, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Glenwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.