Holy Cross is a small town of 288 in Iowa, with a median household income of $72,857
and a 1.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Holy Cross stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Holy Cross is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Holy Cross 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: 89.1
Holy Cross's overall cost of living index is 89.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Holy Cross costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Holy Cross, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$152,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$488
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$72,857
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Holy Cross's violent crime rate is 283.6 per 100,000 residents
— 25% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
283.6 /100k
Property Crime
1055.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Holy Cross, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Holy Cross sees average highs of 27.9°F in January
and 83.8°F in July,
with 37.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 34.4 inches of snow per year.
Holy Cross's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Holy Cross roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $152,000 and median rent is $488/month.
Holy Cross's violent crime rate is 283.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1055.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Holy Cross, IA has a population of 288, a median household income of $72,857, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%.
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.
Holy Cross averages 27.9°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.3 inches
with about 34.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Holy Cross, Iowa is 288 with a median age of 38.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Holy Cross: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $152,000, median household income $72,857, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Holy Cross side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
