Jewell Junction is a small town of 1,284 in Iowa, with a median household income of $75,179
and a 0.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Jewell Junction 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 Jewell Junction is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Jewell Junction 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: 90.2
Jewell Junction's overall cost of living index is 90.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Jewell Junction costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Jewell Junction, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$124,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$866
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$75,179
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Jewell Junction's violent crime rate is 223.4 per 100,000 residents
— 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
223.4 /100k
Property Crime
859.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Jewell Junction is served primarily by South Hamilton Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Jewell Junction, IA
National Avg
School District
South Hamilton Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Jewell Junction sees average highs of 26.2°F in January
and 82.8°F in July,
with 36.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 32.2 inches of snow per year.
Jewell Junction's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Jewell Junction roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $124,800 and median rent is $866/month.
Jewell Junction's violent crime rate is 223.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 859.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Jewell Junction are operated by South Hamilton Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 28.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Jewell Junction, IA has a population of 1,284, a median household income of $75,179, 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.
Jewell Junction averages 26.2°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.3 inches
with about 32.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Jewell Junction, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50130.
The population of Jewell Junction, Iowa is 1,284 with a median age of 36.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Jewell Junction: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $124,800, median household income $75,179, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Jewell Junction side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
