Morning Sun is a small town of 783 in Iowa, with a median household income of $67,212
and a 1.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Morning Sun 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 Morning Sun is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Morning Sun 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: 88.6
Morning Sun's overall cost of living index is 88.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Morning Sun costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Morning Sun, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$85,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$894
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
90.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$67,212
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Morning Sun's violent crime rate is 253.7 per 100,000 residents
— 33% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
253.7 /100k
Property Crime
235.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Morning Sun is served primarily by Morning Sun Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Morning Sun, IA
National Avg
School District
Morning Sun Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Morning Sun sees average highs of 31.5°F in January
and 86.0°F in July,
with 38.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 35.5 inches of snow per year.
Morning Sun's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Morning Sun roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $85,700 and median rent is $894/month.
Morning Sun's violent crime rate is 253.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 235.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Morning Sun are operated by Morning Sun Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 9.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Morning Sun, IA has a population of 783, a median household income of $67,212, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%.
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.
Morning Sun averages 31.5°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.4 inches
with about 35.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Morning Sun, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52640.
The population of Morning Sun, Iowa is 783 with a median age of 44.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Morning Sun: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $85,700, median household income $67,212, crime index 45 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Morning Sun side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
