Lost Nation, Iowa · Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0Lost Nation Iowa 20090125 City Hall Library · Ashton B Crew / CC BY 3.0Lost Nation Iowa 20090125 Rustic Park · Ashton B Crew / CC BY 3.0
Lost Nation is a small town of 407 in Iowa, with a median household income of $46,250
and a 2.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is
18% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lost Nation stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Lost Nation is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lost Nation 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: 82.0
Lost Nation's overall cost of living index is 82.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lost Nation costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lost Nation, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$70,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$439
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
62.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Lost Nation's violent crime rate is 301.5 per 100,000 residents
— 21% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
301.5 /100k
Property Crime
1820.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Lost Nation, 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
9.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lost Nation sees average highs of 29.1°F in January
and 85.2°F in July,
with 39.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.8 inches of snow per year.
Lost Nation's cost of living index is 82, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lost Nation roughly 18% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $70,900 and median rent is $439/month.
Lost Nation's violent crime rate is 301.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1820.0 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.
Lost Nation, IA has a population of 407, a median household income of $46,250, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%.
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.
Lost Nation averages 29.1°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.6 inches
with about 39.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lost Nation, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52254.
The population of Lost Nation, Iowa is 407 with a median age of 43.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lost Nation: cost of living index 82 (100 = US average), median home $70,900, median household income $46,250, crime index 82 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lost Nation side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
