What are the schools like in Humboldt, IA?

Humboldt is served primarily by Humboldt Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.8:1.

What is the median household income in Humboldt?

The median household income in Humboldt, IA is $68,085 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.7%.

What is the weather like in Humboldt, IA?

Humboldt has an average high temperature of 24.4°F in January and 81.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Humboldt, IA affordable or expensive?

Humboldt's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Humboldt is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $144,000 and the median rent is $640 per month.

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

Humboldt has a violent crime rate of 62.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 533.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Humboldt, IA a Good Place to Live?

Humboldt is a small town of 4,774 in Iowa, with a median household income of $68,085 and a 0.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

All Humboldt 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: 88.5

Humboldt's overall cost of living index is 88.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Humboldt costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Humboldt, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$144,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$640	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$68,085	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Humboldt's violent crime rate is 62.8 per 100,000 residents — 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

62.8 /100k

Property Crime

533.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Humboldt is served primarily by Humboldt Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Humboldt, IA	National Avg
School District	Humboldt Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Humboldt sees average highs of 24.4°F in January and 81.1°F in July, with 35.0 inches of annual precipitation and 39.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Humboldt, IA
Average High — January	24.4°F
Average High — July	81.1°F
Annual Precipitation	35.0"
Annual Snowfall	39.0"

Demographics

Metric	Humboldt, IA	National Avg
Population	4,774	—
Median Age	41.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	22.4%	22.2%
65 and over	24.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dakota City, IA 1 mi Rutland, IA 4 mi Badger, IA 9 mi Thor, IA 9 mi Livermore, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Humboldt

Humboldt, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50548

Humboldt vs Other Cities

Humboldt, IA vs Dakota City, IA Humboldt, IA vs Rutland, IA Humboldt, IA vs Badger, IA Humboldt, IA vs Thor, IA Humboldt, IA vs Livermore, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Humboldt, IA affordable or expensive?

Humboldt's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Humboldt roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $144,000 and median rent is $640/month.

What is the crime rate in Humboldt, IA?

Humboldt's violent crime rate is 62.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 533.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Humboldt?

Public schools in Humboldt are operated by Humboldt Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.8:1. 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Humboldt, IA a good place to live?

Humboldt, IA has a population of 4,774, a median household income of $68,085, and an unemployment rate of 0.7%. 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 Humboldt?

Humboldt averages 24.4°F in January and 81.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.0 inches with about 39.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Humboldt?

Humboldt, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50548.

What is the population of Humboldt?

The population of Humboldt, Iowa is 4,774 with a median age of 41.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Humboldt?

Key numbers for living in Humboldt: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $144,000, median household income $68,085, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Humboldt side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.