Lake View is a small town of 920 in Iowa, with a median household income of $63,472
and a 1.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lake View 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 Lake View is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lake View 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: 87.1
Lake View's overall cost of living index is 87.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lake View costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lake View, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$142,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$538
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$63,472
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Lake View's violent crime rate is 246.9 per 100,000 residents
— 35% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
246.9 /100k
Property Crime
596.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lake View is served primarily by East Sac County Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lake View, IA
National Avg
School District
East Sac County Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
29.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lake View sees average highs of 26.4°F in January
and 83.2°F in July,
with 33.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 30.9 inches of snow per year.
Lake View's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lake View roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $142,500 and median rent is $538/month.
Lake View's violent crime rate is 246.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 596.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lake View are operated by East Sac County Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 29.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lake View, IA has a population of 920, a median household income of $63,472, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%.
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.
Lake View averages 26.4°F in January and 83.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.1 inches
with about 30.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lake View, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51450.
The population of Lake View, Iowa is 920 with a median age of 57.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lake View: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $142,500, median household income $63,472, crime index 50 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lake View side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
