What are the schools like in Knoxville, IA?

Knoxville is served primarily by Knoxville Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8:1.

What is the median household income in Knoxville?

The median household income in Knoxville, IA is $57,318 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Knoxville, IA?

Knoxville has an average high temperature of 29.9°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 24.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Knoxville, IA affordable or expensive?

Knoxville's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Knoxville is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $126,800 and the median rent is $784 per month.

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

Knoxville has a violent crime rate of 324.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1719.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Knoxville, IA a Good Place to Live?

Knoxville is a small town of 7,523 in Iowa, with a median household income of $57,318 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Knoxville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Knoxville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Knoxville 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: 89.5

Knoxville's overall cost of living index is 89.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Knoxville costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Knoxville, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$126,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$784	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,318	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Knoxville's violent crime rate is 324.9 per 100,000 residents — 15% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

324.9 /100k

Property Crime

1719.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Knoxville is served primarily by Knoxville Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Knoxville, IA	National Avg
School District	Knoxville Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Knoxville sees average highs of 29.9°F in January and 84.6°F in July, with 37.4 inches of annual precipitation and 24.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Knoxville, IA
Average High — January	29.9°F
Average High — July	84.6°F
Annual Precipitation	37.4"
Annual Snowfall	24.1"

Demographics

Metric	Knoxville, IA	National Avg
Population	7,523	—
Median Age	40.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.7%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.8%	22.2%
65 and over	24.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Harvey, IA 9 mi Melcher-Dallas, IA 10 mi Pleasantville, IA 10 mi Pella, IA 11 mi Marysville, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Knoxville

Knoxville, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50138

Knoxville vs Other Cities

Knoxville, IA vs Harvey, IA Knoxville, IA vs Melcher-Dallas, IA Knoxville, IA vs Pleasantville, IA Knoxville, IA vs Pella, IA Knoxville, IA vs Marysville, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Knoxville, IA affordable or expensive?

Knoxville's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Knoxville roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $126,800 and median rent is $784/month.

What is the crime rate in Knoxville, IA?

Knoxville's violent crime rate is 324.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1719.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Knoxville?

Public schools in Knoxville are operated by Knoxville Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 24.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Knoxville, IA a good place to live?

Knoxville, IA has a population of 7,523, a median household income of $57,318, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. 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 Knoxville?

Knoxville averages 29.9°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.4 inches with about 24.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Knoxville?

Knoxville, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50138.

What is the population of Knoxville?

The population of Knoxville, Iowa is 7,523 with a median age of 40.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Knoxville?

Key numbers for living in Knoxville: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $126,800, median household income $57,318, crime index 84 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Knoxville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.