Janesville is a small town of 1,063 in Iowa, with a median household income of $88,625
and a 1.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Janesville 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 Janesville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Janesville 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: 88.0
Janesville's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Janesville costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Janesville, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$221,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$605
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
91.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$88,625
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Janesville's violent crime rate is 95.8 per 100,000 residents
— 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
95.8 /100k
Property Crime
518.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Janesville is served primarily by Janesville Consolidated School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Janesville, IA
National Avg
School District
Janesville Consolidated School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
26.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Janesville sees average highs of 28.2°F in January
and 85.0°F in July,
with 36.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.1 inches of snow per year.
Janesville's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Janesville roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $221,600 and median rent is $605/month.
Janesville's violent crime rate is 95.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 518.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Janesville are operated by Janesville Consolidated School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 26.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Janesville, IA has a population of 1,063, a median household income of $88,625, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%.
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.
Janesville averages 28.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.3 inches
with about 39.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Janesville, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50647.
The population of Janesville, Iowa is 1,063 with a median age of 38.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Janesville: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $221,600, median household income $88,625, crime index 25 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Janesville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
