What are the schools like in Monona, IA?

Monona is served primarily by MFL MarMac Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

What is the median household income in Monona?

The median household income in Monona, IA is $53,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.3%.

What is the weather like in Monona, IA?

Monona has an average high temperature of 25.7°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Monona, IA affordable or expensive?

Monona's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Monona is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $117,200 and the median rent is $960 per month.

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

Monona has a violent crime rate of 62.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 159.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Monona, IA a Good Place to Live?

Monona is a small town of 1,571 in Iowa, with a median household income of $53,250 and a 1.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Monona is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Monona 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: 90.7

Monona's overall cost of living index is 90.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Monona costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Monona, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$117,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$960	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Monona's violent crime rate is 62.7 per 100,000 residents — 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

62.7 /100k

Property Crime

159.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Monona is served primarily by MFL MarMac Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Monona, IA	National Avg
School District	MFL MarMac Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Monona sees average highs of 25.7°F in January and 82.8°F in July, with 38.9 inches of annual precipitation and 39.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Monona, IA
Average High — January	25.7°F
Average High — July	82.8°F
Annual Precipitation	38.9"
Annual Snowfall	39.8"

Demographics

Metric	Monona, IA	National Avg
Population	1,571	—
Median Age	43.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.4%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.0%	22.2%
65 and over	25.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Luana, IA 3 mi Farmersburg, IA 6 mi St. Olaf, IA 9 mi Postville, IA 9 mi Marquette, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Monona

Monona, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52159

Monona vs Other Cities

Monona, IA vs Luana, IA Monona, IA vs Farmersburg, IA Monona, IA vs St. Olaf, IA Monona, IA vs Postville, IA Monona, IA vs Marquette, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monona, IA affordable or expensive?

Monona's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Monona roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $117,200 and median rent is $960/month.

What is the crime rate in Monona, IA?

Monona's violent crime rate is 62.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 159.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Monona?

Public schools in Monona are operated by MFL MarMac Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 12.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Monona, IA a good place to live?

Monona, IA has a population of 1,571, a median household income of $53,250, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%. 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.

What is the weather like in Monona?

Monona averages 25.7°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.9 inches with about 39.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Monona?

Monona, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52159.

What is the population of Monona?

The population of Monona, Iowa is 1,571 with a median age of 43.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Monona?

Key numbers for living in Monona: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $117,200, median household income $53,250, crime index 13 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Monona side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.