What are the schools like in Indianola, IA?

Indianola is served primarily by Indianola Comm School District. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.1:1.

What is the median household income in Indianola?

The median household income in Indianola, IA is $73,534 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in Indianola, IA?

Indianola has an average high temperature of 31.7°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Indianola, IA affordable or expensive?

Indianola's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Indianola is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $206,200 and the median rent is $914 per month.

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

Indianola has a violent crime rate of 273.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1471.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Indianola, IA a Good Place to Live?

Indianola is a small city of 15,845 in Iowa, with a median household income of $73,534 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Indianola stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Indianola is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Indianola 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: 92.7

Indianola's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Indianola costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Indianola, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$206,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$914	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,534	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Indianola's violent crime rate is 273.2 per 100,000 residents — 28% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

273.2 /100k

Property Crime

1471.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Indianola is served primarily by Indianola Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Indianola, IA	National Avg
School District	Indianola Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	33.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Indianola sees average highs of 31.7°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 38.9 inches of annual precipitation and 30.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Indianola, IA
Average High — January	31.7°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	38.9"
Annual Snowfall	30.8"

Demographics

Metric	Indianola, IA	National Avg
Population	15,845	—
Median Age	34.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.7%	6.3%
Under 18	23.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ackworth, IA 5 mi Spring Hill, IA 6 mi Milo, IA 8 mi Martensdale, IA 9 mi Sandyville, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Indianola

Indianola, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50125

Indianola vs Other Cities

Indianola, IA vs Ackworth, IA Indianola, IA vs Spring Hill, IA Indianola, IA vs Milo, IA Indianola, IA vs Martensdale, IA Indianola, IA vs Sandyville, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Indianola, IA affordable or expensive?

Indianola's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Indianola roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $206,200 and median rent is $914/month.

What is the crime rate in Indianola, IA?

Indianola's violent crime rate is 273.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1471.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Indianola?

Public schools in Indianola are operated by Indianola Comm School District. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.1:1. 33.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Indianola, IA a good place to live?

Indianola, IA has a population of 15,845, a median household income of $73,534, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. 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 Indianola?

Indianola averages 31.7°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.9 inches with about 30.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Indianola?

Indianola, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50125.

What is the population of Indianola?

The population of Indianola, Iowa is 15,845 with a median age of 34.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Indianola?

Key numbers for living in Indianola: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $206,200, median household income $73,534, crime index 71 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Indianola side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.