What are the schools like in Hartley, IA?

Hartley is served primarily by Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.7:1.

What is the median household income in Hartley?

The median household income in Hartley, IA is $48,088 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Hartley, IA?

Hartley has an average high temperature of 24.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Hartley, IA affordable or expensive?

Hartley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hartley is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $97,000 and the median rent is $720 per month.

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

Hartley has a violent crime rate of 276.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 618.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hartley, IA a Good Place to Live?

Hartley is a small town of 1,536 in Iowa, with a median household income of $48,088 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

All Hartley 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: 87.5

Hartley's overall cost of living index is 87.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hartley costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hartley, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$97,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$720	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,088	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hartley's violent crime rate is 276.3 per 100,000 residents — 27% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

276.3 /100k

Property Crime

618.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hartley is served primarily by Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hartley, IA	National Avg
School District	Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hartley sees average highs of 24.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 30.8 inches of annual precipitation and 41.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hartley, IA
Average High — January	24.0°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	30.8"
Annual Snowfall	41.4"

Demographics

Metric	Hartley, IA	National Avg
Population	1,536	—
Median Age	47.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.0%	22.2%
65 and over	29.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Everly, IA 8 mi Sanborn, IA 9 mi Primghar, IA 10 mi Melvin, IA 10 mi Royal, IA 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Hartley

Hartley, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51346

Hartley vs Other Cities

Hartley, IA vs Everly, IA Hartley, IA vs Sanborn, IA Hartley, IA vs Primghar, IA Hartley, IA vs Melvin, IA Hartley, IA vs Royal, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hartley, IA affordable or expensive?

Hartley's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hartley roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $97,000 and median rent is $720/month.

What is the crime rate in Hartley, IA?

Hartley's violent crime rate is 276.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 618.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hartley?

Public schools in Hartley are operated by Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 14.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hartley, IA a good place to live?

Hartley, IA has a population of 1,536, a median household income of $48,088, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. 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 Hartley?

Hartley averages 24.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.8 inches with about 41.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hartley?

Hartley, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51346.

What is the population of Hartley?

The population of Hartley, Iowa is 1,536 with a median age of 47.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hartley?

Key numbers for living in Hartley: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $97,000, median household income $48,088, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hartley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.