What are the schools like in Melvin, IA?

School district data for Melvin is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Melvin?

The median household income in Melvin, IA is $63,438 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

What is the weather like in Melvin, IA?

Melvin has an average high temperature of 24.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Melvin, IA affordable or expensive?

Melvin's cost of living index is 82, where 100 represents the national average. This means Melvin is 18% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $49,700 and the median rent is $525 per month.

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

Melvin has a violent crime rate of 83.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 251.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Melvin, IA a Good Place to Live?

Melvin is a small town of 322 in Iowa, with a median household income of $63,438 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is 18% below the national average.

Strengths: Melvin 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 Melvin is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Melvin 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: 81.7

Melvin's overall cost of living index is 81.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Melvin costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.

Metric	Melvin, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$49,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$525	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	79.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,438	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Melvin's violent crime rate is 83.9 per 100,000 residents — 78% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

83.9 /100k

Property Crime

251.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Melvin, 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	8.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	72.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Melvin sees average highs of 24.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 32.1 inches of annual precipitation and 41.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Melvin, IA
Average High — January	24.0°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	32.1"
Annual Snowfall	41.4"

Demographics

Metric	Melvin, IA	National Avg
Population	322	—
Median Age	37.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.2%	6.3%
Under 18	32.9%	22.2%
65 and over	21.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Sanborn, IA 8 mi Ashton, IA 9 mi Ocheyedan, IA 10 mi Hartley, IA 10 mi Sibley, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Melvin

Melvin, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51350

Melvin vs Other Cities

Melvin, IA vs Sanborn, IA Melvin, IA vs Ashton, IA Melvin, IA vs Ocheyedan, IA Melvin, IA vs Hartley, IA Melvin, IA vs Sibley, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Melvin, IA affordable or expensive?

Melvin's cost of living index is 82, where 100 is the national average. That makes Melvin roughly 18% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $49,700 and median rent is $525/month.

What is the crime rate in Melvin, IA?

Melvin's violent crime rate is 83.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 251.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Melvin?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Melvin, IA a good place to live?

Melvin, IA has a population of 322, a median household income of $63,438, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. 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.

What is the weather like in Melvin?

Melvin averages 24.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.1 inches with about 41.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Melvin?

Melvin, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51350.

What is the population of Melvin?

The population of Melvin, Iowa is 322 with a median age of 37.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Melvin?

Key numbers for living in Melvin: cost of living index 82 (100 = US average), median home $49,700, median household income $63,438, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Melvin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.