What are the schools like in Kanawha, IA?

Kanawha is served primarily by West Hancock Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.2:1.

What is the median household income in Kanawha?

The median household income in Kanawha, IA is $63,889 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.9%.

What is the weather like in Kanawha, IA?

Kanawha has an average high temperature of 23.7°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Kanawha, IA affordable or expensive?

Kanawha's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kanawha is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $70,300 and the median rent is $633 per month.

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

Kanawha has a violent crime rate of 131.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 404.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kanawha, IA a Good Place to Live?

Kanawha is a small town of 912 in Iowa, with a median household income of $63,889 and a 1.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

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

All Kanawha 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: 84.9

Kanawha's overall cost of living index is 84.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kanawha costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric	Kanawha, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$70,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$633	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,889	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Kanawha's violent crime rate is 131.7 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

131.7 /100k

Property Crime

404.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Kanawha is served primarily by West Hancock Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kanawha, IA	National Avg
School District	West Hancock Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	28.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kanawha sees average highs of 23.7°F in January and 82.4°F in July, with 35.0 inches of annual precipitation and 35.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kanawha, IA
Average High — January	23.7°F
Average High — July	82.4°F
Annual Precipitation	35.0"
Annual Snowfall	35.3"

Demographics

Metric	Kanawha, IA	National Avg
Population	912	—
Median Age	29.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	24.9%	22.2%
65 and over	17.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Goodell, IA 9 mi Corwith, IA 9 mi Klemme, IA 11 mi Belmond, IA 11 mi Britt, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Kanawha

Kanawha, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50447

Kanawha vs Other Cities

Kanawha, IA vs Goodell, IA Kanawha, IA vs Corwith, IA Kanawha, IA vs Klemme, IA Kanawha, IA vs Belmond, IA Kanawha, IA vs Britt, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kanawha, IA affordable or expensive?

Kanawha's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Kanawha roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $70,300 and median rent is $633/month.

What is the crime rate in Kanawha, IA?

Kanawha's violent crime rate is 131.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 404.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kanawha?

Public schools in Kanawha are operated by West Hancock Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 28.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kanawha, IA a good place to live?

Kanawha, IA has a population of 912, a median household income of $63,889, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%. 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 Kanawha?

Kanawha averages 23.7°F in January and 82.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.0 inches with about 35.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kanawha?

Kanawha, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50447.

What is the population of Kanawha?

The population of Kanawha, Iowa is 912 with a median age of 29.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kanawha?

Key numbers for living in Kanawha: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $70,300, median household income $63,889, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kanawha side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.