Below Average CostVery SafeEast Mills Comm School District
Median Income
$86,413
household / year
Median Home Value
$164,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$818
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100
Is Malvern, IA a Good Place to Live?
Malvern is a small town of 1,264 in Iowa, with a median household income of $86,413
and a 4.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Malvern 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 Malvern is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Malvern 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: 92.5
Malvern's overall cost of living index is 92.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Malvern costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Malvern, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$164,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$818
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$86,413
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Malvern's violent crime rate is 66.2 per 100,000 residents
— 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
66.2 /100k
Property Crime
794.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Malvern is served primarily by East Mills Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Malvern, IA
National Avg
School District
East Mills Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
30.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Malvern sees average highs of 33.0°F in January
and 86.9°F in July,
with 34.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 19.6 inches of snow per year.
Malvern's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Malvern roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $164,600 and median rent is $818/month.
Malvern's violent crime rate is 66.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 794.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Malvern are operated by East Mills Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1. 30.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Malvern, IA has a population of 1,264, a median household income of $86,413, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%.
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.
Malvern averages 33.0°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.9 inches
with about 19.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Malvern, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51551.
The population of Malvern, Iowa is 1,264 with a median age of 43.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Malvern: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $164,600, median household income $86,413, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Malvern side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.