What are the schools like in Kalona, IA?

Kalona is served primarily by Mid-Prairie Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.2:1.

What is the median household income in Kalona?

The median household income in Kalona, IA is $67,813 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.9%.

What is the weather like in Kalona, IA?

Kalona has an average high temperature of 30.9°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 27.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Kalona, IA affordable or expensive?

Kalona's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kalona is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $209,800 and the median rent is $801 per month.

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

Kalona has a violent crime rate of 259.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1028.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kalona, IA a Good Place to Live?

Kalona is a small town of 2,637 in Iowa, with a median household income of $67,813 and a 0.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

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

All Kalona 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: 91.8

Kalona's overall cost of living index is 91.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kalona costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Kalona, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$209,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$801	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,813	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Kalona's violent crime rate is 259.5 per 100,000 residents — 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

259.5 /100k

Property Crime

1028.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Kalona is served primarily by Mid-Prairie Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kalona, IA	National Avg
School District	Mid-Prairie Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kalona sees average highs of 30.9°F in January and 85.8°F in July, with 35.7 inches of annual precipitation and 27.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kalona, IA
Average High — January	30.9°F
Average High — July	85.8°F
Annual Precipitation	35.7"
Annual Snowfall	27.5"

Demographics

Metric	Kalona, IA	National Avg
Population	2,637	—
Median Age	41.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	22.9%	22.2%
65 and over	25.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Frytown, IA 6 mi Riverside, IA 7 mi Wellman, IA 7 mi Hills, IA 10 mi West Chester, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Kalona

Kalona, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52247

Kalona vs Other Cities

Kalona, IA vs Frytown, IA Kalona, IA vs Riverside, IA Kalona, IA vs Wellman, IA Kalona, IA vs Hills, IA Kalona, IA vs West Chester, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kalona, IA affordable or expensive?

Kalona's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Kalona roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $209,800 and median rent is $801/month.

What is the crime rate in Kalona, IA?

Kalona's violent crime rate is 259.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1028.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kalona?

Public schools in Kalona are operated by Mid-Prairie Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 24.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kalona, IA a good place to live?

Kalona, IA has a population of 2,637, a median household income of $67,813, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%. 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 Kalona?

Kalona averages 30.9°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.7 inches with about 27.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kalona?

Kalona, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52247.

What is the population of Kalona?

The population of Kalona, Iowa is 2,637 with a median age of 41.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kalona?

Key numbers for living in Kalona: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $209,800, median household income $67,813, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kalona side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.