What are the schools like in Oelwein, IA?

Oelwein is served primarily by Oelwein Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

What is the median household income in Oelwein?

The median household income in Oelwein, IA is $41,629 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in Oelwein, IA?

Oelwein has an average high temperature of 25.6°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Oelwein, IA affordable or expensive?

Oelwein's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Oelwein is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $97,000 and the median rent is $790 per month.

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

Oelwein has a violent crime rate of 208.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 556.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Oelwein, IA a Good Place to Live?

Oelwein is a small town of 5,934 in Iowa, with a median household income of $41,629 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

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

All Oelwein 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: 88.2

Oelwein's overall cost of living index is 88.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Oelwein costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Oelwein, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$97,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$790	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,629	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Oelwein's violent crime rate is 208.6 per 100,000 residents — 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

208.6 /100k

Property Crime

556.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Oelwein is served primarily by Oelwein Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Oelwein, IA	National Avg
School District	Oelwein Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Oelwein sees average highs of 25.6°F in January and 81.6°F in July, with 35.4 inches of annual precipitation and 39.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Oelwein, IA
Average High — January	25.6°F
Average High — July	81.6°F
Annual Precipitation	35.4"
Annual Snowfall	39.3"

Demographics

Metric	Oelwein, IA	National Avg
Population	5,934	—
Median Age	44.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.9%	22.2%
65 and over	22.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hazleton, IA 4 mi Stanley, IA 6 mi Fairbank, IA 7 mi Maynard, IA 7 mi Westgate, IA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Oelwein

Oelwein, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50662

Oelwein vs Other Cities

Oelwein, IA vs Hazleton, IA Oelwein, IA vs Stanley, IA Oelwein, IA vs Fairbank, IA Oelwein, IA vs Maynard, IA Oelwein, IA vs Westgate, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Oelwein, IA affordable or expensive?

Oelwein's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Oelwein roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $97,000 and median rent is $790/month.

What is the crime rate in Oelwein, IA?

Oelwein's violent crime rate is 208.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 556.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Oelwein?

Public schools in Oelwein are operated by Oelwein Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 13.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Oelwein, IA a good place to live?

Oelwein, IA has a population of 5,934, a median household income of $41,629, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. 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 Oelwein?

Oelwein averages 25.6°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.4 inches with about 39.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Oelwein?

Oelwein, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50662.

What is the population of Oelwein?

The population of Oelwein, Iowa is 5,934 with a median age of 44.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Oelwein?

Key numbers for living in Oelwein: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $97,000, median household income $41,629, crime index 44 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oelwein side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.