Leighton is a small town of 179 in Iowa, with a median household income of $66,250
.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Leighton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Leighton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Leighton 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: 88.3
Leighton's overall cost of living index is 88.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Leighton costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Leighton, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$113,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$719
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$66,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Leighton's violent crime rate is 122.2 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
122.2 /100k
Property Crime
620.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Leighton, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Leighton sees average highs of 30.7°F in January
and 85.5°F in July,
with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 30.0 inches of snow per year.
Leighton's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Leighton roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $113,700 and median rent is $719/month.
Leighton's violent crime rate is 122.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 620.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Leighton, IA has a population of 179, a median household income of $66,250, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Leighton averages 30.7°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches
with about 30.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Leighton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50143.
The population of Leighton, Iowa is 179 with a median age of 45.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Leighton: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $113,700, median household income $66,250, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Leighton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
