What are the schools like in Newell, IA?

Newell is served primarily by Newell-Fonda Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in Newell?

The median household income in Newell, IA is $64,167 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Newell, IA?

Newell has an average high temperature of 25.8°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Newell, IA affordable or expensive?

Newell's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Newell is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $101,500 and the median rent is $627 per month.

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

Newell has a violent crime rate of 214.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1100.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Newell, IA a Good Place to Live?

Newell is a small town of 892 in Iowa, with a median household income of $64,167 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Newell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Newell 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: 86.6

Newell's overall cost of living index is 86.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Newell costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Newell, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$101,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$627	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	79.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,167	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Newell's violent crime rate is 214.1 per 100,000 residents — 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

214.1 /100k

Property Crime

1100.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Newell is served primarily by Newell-Fonda Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Newell, IA	National Avg
School District	Newell-Fonda Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Newell sees average highs of 25.8°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation and 30.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Newell, IA
Average High — January	25.8°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	33.8"
Annual Snowfall	30.9"

Demographics

Metric	Newell, IA	National Avg
Population	892	—
Median Age	35.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	34.6%	22.2%
65 and over	15.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Varina, IA 6 mi Nemaha, IA 8 mi Fonda, IA 8 mi Lakeside, IA 9 mi Storm Lake, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Newell

Newell, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50568

Newell vs Other Cities

Newell, IA vs Varina, IA Newell, IA vs Nemaha, IA Newell, IA vs Fonda, IA Newell, IA vs Lakeside, IA Newell, IA vs Storm Lake, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Newell, IA affordable or expensive?

Newell's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Newell roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $101,500 and median rent is $627/month.

What is the crime rate in Newell, IA?

Newell's violent crime rate is 214.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1100.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Newell?

Public schools in Newell are operated by Newell-Fonda Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 16.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Newell, IA a good place to live?

Newell, IA has a population of 892, a median household income of $64,167, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. 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.

What is the weather like in Newell?

Newell averages 25.8°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.8 inches with about 30.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Newell?

Newell, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50568.

What is the population of Newell?

The population of Newell, Iowa is 892 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Newell?

Key numbers for living in Newell: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $101,500, median household income $64,167, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Newell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.