What are the schools like in Marshalltown, IA?

Marshalltown is served primarily by Marshalltown Comm School District. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2:1.

What is the median household income in Marshalltown?

The median household income in Marshalltown, IA is $65,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.8%.

What is the weather like in Marshalltown, IA?

Marshalltown has an average high temperature of 27.5°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.3 inches.

Marshalltown, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Marshalltown, IA affordable or expensive?

Marshalltown's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Marshalltown is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $109,800 and the median rent is $832 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Marshalltown, IA?

Marshalltown has a violent crime rate of 297.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1773.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Marshalltown, IA a Good Place to Live?

Marshalltown is a small city of 27,511 in Iowa, with a median household income of $65,000 and a 6.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Marshalltown stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Marshalltown is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Marshalltown 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: 89.3

Marshalltown's overall cost of living index is 89.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Marshalltown costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Marshalltown, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$109,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$832	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Marshalltown's violent crime rate is 297.4 per 100,000 residents — 22% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

297.4 /100k

Property Crime

1773.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Marshalltown is served primarily by Marshalltown Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Marshalltown, IA	National Avg
School District	Marshalltown Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Marshalltown sees average highs of 27.5°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation and 25.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Marshalltown, IA
Average High — January	27.5°F
Average High — July	83.5°F
Annual Precipitation	36.4"
Annual Snowfall	25.3"

Demographics

Metric	Marshalltown, IA	National Avg
Population	27,511	—
Median Age	35.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	17.7%	18.9%
Asian	5.2%	6.3%
Under 18	26.8%	22.2%
65 and over	17.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Green Mountain, IA 6 mi Haverhill, IA 7 mi Albion, IA 7 mi Ferguson, IA 7 mi Le Grand, IA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Marshalltown

Marshalltown, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50158

Marshalltown vs Other Cities

Marshalltown, IA vs Green Mountain, IA Marshalltown, IA vs Haverhill, IA Marshalltown, IA vs Albion, IA Marshalltown, IA vs Ferguson, IA Marshalltown, IA vs Le Grand, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marshalltown, IA affordable or expensive?

Marshalltown's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Marshalltown roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $109,800 and median rent is $832/month.

What is the crime rate in Marshalltown, IA?

Marshalltown's violent crime rate is 297.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1773.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Marshalltown?

Public schools in Marshalltown are operated by Marshalltown Comm School District. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 19.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Marshalltown, IA a good place to live?

Marshalltown, IA has a population of 27,511, a median household income of $65,000, and an unemployment rate of 6.8%. 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.

What is the weather like in Marshalltown?

Marshalltown averages 27.5°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches with about 25.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Marshalltown?

Marshalltown, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50158.

What is the population of Marshalltown?

The population of Marshalltown, Iowa is 27,511 with a median age of 35.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Marshalltown?

Key numbers for living in Marshalltown: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $109,800, median household income $65,000, crime index 81 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Marshalltown side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.