North Liberty is a small city of 20,393 in Iowa, with a median household income of $100,197
and a 2.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
North Liberty stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether North Liberty is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All North Liberty 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: 91.8
North Liberty's overall cost of living index is 91.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in North Liberty costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
North Liberty, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$272,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,198
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$100,197
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
North Liberty's violent crime rate is 69.3 per 100,000 residents
— 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
69.3 /100k
Property Crime
397.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
North Liberty is served primarily by Iowa City Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
North Liberty, IA
National Avg
School District
Iowa City Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
20
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
4
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
55.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
North Liberty sees average highs of 30.9°F in January
and 85.8°F in July,
with 37.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 29.2 inches of snow per year.
North Liberty's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes North Liberty roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $272,900 and median rent is $1,198/month.
North Liberty's violent crime rate is 69.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 397.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in North Liberty are operated by Iowa City Comm School District.
The district has 20 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 55.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
North Liberty, IA has a population of 20,393, a median household income of $100,197, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%.
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.
North Liberty averages 30.9°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.2 inches
with about 29.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
North Liberty, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52317.
The population of North Liberty, Iowa is 20,393 with a median age of 31.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in North Liberty: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $272,900, median household income $100,197, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare North Liberty side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
