Murray is a small town of 681 in Iowa, with a median household income of $60,469
and a 3.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Murray stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Murray is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Murray 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: 87.6
Murray's overall cost of living index is 87.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Murray costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Murray, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$66,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$925
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,469
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Murray's violent crime rate is 138.4 per 100,000 residents
— 64% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
138.4 /100k
Property Crime
1617.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Murray is served primarily by Murray Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Murray, IA
National Avg
School District
Murray Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Murray sees average highs of 32.2°F in January
and 86.5°F in July,
with 38.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.7 inches of snow per year.
Murray's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Murray roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $66,000 and median rent is $925/month.
Murray's violent crime rate is 138.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1617.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Murray are operated by Murray Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 17.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Murray, IA has a population of 681, a median household income of $60,469, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%.
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.
Murray averages 32.2°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.1 inches
with about 27.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Murray, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50174.
The population of Murray, Iowa is 681 with a median age of 36.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Murray: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $66,000, median household income $60,469, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Murray side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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