What are the schools like in Hawarden, IA?

Hawarden is served primarily by West Sioux Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.3:1.

What is the median household income in Hawarden?

The median household income in Hawarden, IA is $66,920 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Hawarden, IA?

Hawarden has an average high temperature of 26.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Hawarden, IA affordable or expensive?

Hawarden's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hawarden is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $134,200 and the median rent is $841 per month.

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

Hawarden has a violent crime rate of 45.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 232.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hawarden, IA a Good Place to Live?

Hawarden is a small town of 2,673 in Iowa, with a median household income of $66,920 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

All Hawarden 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: 90.4

Hawarden's overall cost of living index is 90.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hawarden costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hawarden, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$134,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$841	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,920	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hawarden's violent crime rate is 45.9 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

45.9 /100k

Property Crime

232.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hawarden is served primarily by West Sioux Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hawarden, IA	National Avg
School District	West Sioux Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hawarden sees average highs of 26.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July, with 29.9 inches of annual precipitation and 30.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hawarden, IA
Average High — January	26.9°F
Average High — July	84.9°F
Annual Precipitation	29.9"
Annual Snowfall	30.6"

Demographics

Metric	Hawarden, IA	National Avg
Population	2,673	—
Median Age	34.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	20.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	32.2%	22.2%
65 and over	17.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Chatsworth, IA 6 mi Alcester, SD 7 mi Ireton, IA 8 mi Hudson, SD 9 mi Craig, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Hawarden

Hawarden, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51023

Hawarden vs Other Cities

Hawarden, IA vs Chatsworth, IA Hawarden, IA vs Alcester, SD Hawarden, IA vs Ireton, IA Hawarden, IA vs Hudson, SD Hawarden, IA vs Craig, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hawarden, IA affordable or expensive?

Hawarden's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hawarden roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $134,200 and median rent is $841/month.

What is the crime rate in Hawarden, IA?

Hawarden's violent crime rate is 45.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 232.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hawarden?

Public schools in Hawarden are operated by West Sioux Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.3:1. 20.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hawarden, IA a good place to live?

Hawarden, IA has a population of 2,673, a median household income of $66,920, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. 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 Hawarden?

Hawarden averages 26.9°F in January and 84.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.9 inches with about 30.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hawarden?

Hawarden, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51023.

What is the population of Hawarden?

The population of Hawarden, Iowa is 2,673 with a median age of 34.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hawarden?

Key numbers for living in Hawarden: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $134,200, median household income $66,920, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hawarden side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.