Mystic is a small town of 335 in Iowa, with a median household income of $46,250
and a 6.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mystic stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Mystic is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mystic 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: 86.4
Mystic's overall cost of living index is 86.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mystic costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mystic, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$60,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$843
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Mystic's violent crime rate is 233.4 per 100,000 residents
— 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
233.4 /100k
Property Crime
885.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Mystic, 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
2.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mystic sees average highs of 31.3°F in January
and 85.0°F in July,
with 38.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 21.5 inches of snow per year.
Mystic's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mystic roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $60,000 and median rent is $843/month.
Mystic's violent crime rate is 233.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 885.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Mystic, IA has a population of 335, a median household income of $46,250, 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.
Mystic averages 31.3°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.6 inches
with about 21.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mystic, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52574.
The population of Mystic, Iowa is 335 with a median age of 37.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mystic: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $60,000, median household income $46,250, crime index 54 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mystic side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
