Very AffordableSafer than AverageUnion Comm School District
LaPorteCityIA CityStation · User:Magicpiano / CC BY-SA 4.0FI0006529-2 · FortepanIowa / CC BY-SA 4.0Walnut and 3rd Streets, LaPorte City, Iowa - c. 1915 · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain
La Porte City is a small town of 2,347 in Iowa, with a median household income of $65,451
and a 1.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
La Porte City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether La Porte City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All La Porte City 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: 88.0
La Porte City's overall cost of living index is 88.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in La Porte City costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
La Porte City, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$139,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$760
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
79.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$65,451
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
La Porte City's violent crime rate is 258.3 per 100,000 residents
— 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
258.3 /100k
Property Crime
1350.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
La Porte City is served primarily by Union Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
La Porte City, IA
National Avg
School District
Union Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
La Porte City sees average highs of 25.6°F in January
and 81.4°F in July,
with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 33.6 inches of snow per year.
La Porte City's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes La Porte City roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $139,600 and median rent is $760/month.
La Porte City's violent crime rate is 258.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1350.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in La Porte City are operated by Union Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1. 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
La Porte City, IA has a population of 2,347, a median household income of $65,451, and an unemployment rate of 1.8%.
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.
La Porte City averages 25.6°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches
with about 33.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
La Porte City, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50651.
The population of La Porte City, Iowa is 2,347 with a median age of 32.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in La Porte City: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $139,600, median household income $65,451, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare La Porte City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
