What are the schools like in Glidden, IA?

Glidden is served primarily by Glidden-Ralston Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Glidden?

The median household income in Glidden, IA is $67,361 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.9%.

What is the weather like in Glidden, IA?

Glidden has an average high temperature of 27.9°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 31.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Glidden, IA affordable or expensive?

Glidden's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Glidden is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $145,200 and the median rent is $550 per month.

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

Glidden has a violent crime rate of 19.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 545.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Glidden, IA a Good Place to Live?

Glidden is a small town of 964 in Iowa, with a median household income of $67,361 and a 0.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

All Glidden 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: 87.4

Glidden's overall cost of living index is 87.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Glidden costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Glidden, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$145,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$550	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,361	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Glidden's violent crime rate is 19.8 per 100,000 residents — 95% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

19.8 /100k

Property Crime

545.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Glidden is served primarily by Glidden-Ralston Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Glidden, IA	National Avg
School District	Glidden-Ralston Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Glidden sees average highs of 27.9°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 33.7 inches of annual precipitation and 31.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Glidden, IA
Average High — January	27.9°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	33.7"
Annual Snowfall	31.7"

Demographics

Metric	Glidden, IA	National Avg
Population	964	—
Median Age	45.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.2%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	18.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ralston, IA 5 mi Lidderdale, IA 5 mi Carroll, IA 7 mi Willey, IA 7 mi Lanesboro, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Glidden

Glidden, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51443

Glidden vs Other Cities

Glidden, IA vs Ralston, IA Glidden, IA vs Lidderdale, IA Glidden, IA vs Carroll, IA Glidden, IA vs Willey, IA Glidden, IA vs Lanesboro, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Glidden, IA affordable or expensive?

Glidden's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Glidden roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $145,200 and median rent is $550/month.

What is the crime rate in Glidden, IA?

Glidden's violent crime rate is 19.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 545.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Glidden?

Public schools in Glidden are operated by Glidden-Ralston Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Glidden, IA a good place to live?

Glidden, IA has a population of 964, a median household income of $67,361, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%. 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 Glidden?

Glidden averages 27.9°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.7 inches with about 31.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Glidden?

Glidden, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51443.

What is the population of Glidden?

The population of Glidden, Iowa is 964 with a median age of 45.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Glidden?

Key numbers for living in Glidden: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $145,200, median household income $67,361, crime index 14 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Glidden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.