Below Average CostVery SafeBenton Comm School District
Median Income
$67,708
household / year
Median Home Value
$138,100
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$912
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100
Is Keystone, IA a Good Place to Live?
Keystone is a small town of 739 in Iowa, with a median household income of $67,708
and a 1.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Keystone stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Keystone is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Keystone 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: 90.0
Keystone's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Keystone costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Keystone, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$138,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$912
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
78.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,708
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Keystone's violent crime rate is 183.3 per 100,000 residents
— 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
183.3 /100k
Property Crime
464.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Keystone is served primarily by Benton Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Keystone, IA
National Avg
School District
Benton Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Keystone sees average highs of 28.1°F in January
and 83.6°F in July,
with 36.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.9 inches of snow per year.
Keystone's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Keystone roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $138,100 and median rent is $912/month.
Keystone's violent crime rate is 183.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 464.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Keystone are operated by Benton Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 15.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Keystone, IA has a population of 739, a median household income of $67,708, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%.
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.
Keystone averages 28.1°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.0 inches
with about 27.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Keystone, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52249.
The population of Keystone, Iowa is 739 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Keystone: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $138,100, median household income $67,708, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Keystone side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.