What are the schools like in Northwood, IA?

Northwood is served primarily by Northwood-Kensett Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.2:1.

What is the median household income in Northwood?

The median household income in Northwood, IA is $62,381 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

What is the weather like in Northwood, IA?

Northwood has an average high temperature of 21.3°F in January and 78.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Northwood, IA affordable or expensive?

Northwood's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Northwood is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $121,100 and the median rent is $650 per month.

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

Northwood has a violent crime rate of 67.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 271.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Northwood, IA a Good Place to Live?

Northwood is a small town of 2,142 in Iowa, with a median household income of $62,381 and a 5.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Northwood 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 Northwood is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Northwood 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: 87.8

Northwood's overall cost of living index is 87.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Northwood costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Northwood, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$121,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$650	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	79.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,381	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Northwood's violent crime rate is 67.7 per 100,000 residents — 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

67.7 /100k

Property Crime

271.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Northwood is served primarily by Northwood-Kensett Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Northwood, IA	National Avg
School District	Northwood-Kensett Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Northwood sees average highs of 21.3°F in January and 78.6°F in July, with 35.5 inches of annual precipitation and 40.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Northwood, IA
Average High — January	21.3°F
Average High — July	78.6°F
Annual Precipitation	35.5"
Annual Snowfall	40.2"

Demographics

Metric	Northwood, IA	National Avg
Population	2,142	—
Median Age	44.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.0%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	21.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kensett, IA 6 mi Bolan, IA 7 mi Myrtle, MN 9 mi Glenville, MN 10 mi Carpenter, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Northwood

Northwood, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50459

Northwood vs Other Cities

Northwood, IA vs Kensett, IA Northwood, IA vs Bolan, IA Northwood, IA vs Myrtle, MN Northwood, IA vs Glenville, MN Northwood, IA vs Carpenter, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Northwood, IA affordable or expensive?

Northwood's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Northwood roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $121,100 and median rent is $650/month.

What is the crime rate in Northwood, IA?

Northwood's violent crime rate is 67.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 271.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Northwood?

Public schools in Northwood are operated by Northwood-Kensett Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1. 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Northwood, IA a good place to live?

Northwood, IA has a population of 2,142, a median household income of $62,381, and an unemployment rate of 5.6%. 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 Northwood?

Northwood averages 21.3°F in January and 78.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.5 inches with about 40.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Northwood?

Northwood, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50459.

What is the population of Northwood?

The population of Northwood, Iowa is 2,142 with a median age of 44.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Northwood?

Key numbers for living in Northwood: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $121,100, median household income $62,381, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Northwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.