What are the schools like in Olin, IA?

Olin is served primarily by Olin Consolidated School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 6.7:1.

What is the median household income in Olin?

The median household income in Olin, IA is $62,738 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 14.1%.

What is the weather like in Olin, IA?

Olin has an average high temperature of 28.5°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Olin, IA affordable or expensive?

Olin's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Olin is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $91,200 and the median rent is $725 per month.

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

Olin has a violent crime rate of 106.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 382.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Olin, IA a Good Place to Live?

Olin is a small town of 875 in Iowa, with a median household income of $62,738 and a 14.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Olin stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).

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

All Olin 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: 90.0

Olin's overall cost of living index is 90.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Olin costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Olin, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$91,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$725	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,738	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Olin's violent crime rate is 106.4 per 100,000 residents — 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

106.4 /100k

Property Crime

382.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Olin is served primarily by Olin Consolidated School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Olin, IA	National Avg
School District	Olin Consolidated School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	6.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	4.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Olin sees average highs of 28.5°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 40.0 inches of annual precipitation and 39.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Olin, IA
Average High — January	28.5°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	40.0"
Annual Snowfall	39.8"

Demographics

Metric	Olin, IA	National Avg
Population	875	—
Median Age	32.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	14.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	85.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.8%	22.2%
65 and over	10.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Morley, IA 5 mi Stanwood, IA 7 mi Wyoming, IA 8 mi Center Junction, IA 8 mi Mechanicsville, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Olin

Olin, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52320

Olin vs Other Cities

Olin, IA vs Morley, IA Olin, IA vs Stanwood, IA Olin, IA vs Wyoming, IA Olin, IA vs Center Junction, IA Olin, IA vs Mechanicsville, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Olin, IA affordable or expensive?

Olin's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Olin roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $91,200 and median rent is $725/month.

What is the crime rate in Olin, IA?

Olin's violent crime rate is 106.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 382.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Olin?

Public schools in Olin are operated by Olin Consolidated School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.7:1. 4.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Olin, IA a good place to live?

Olin, IA has a population of 875, a median household income of $62,738, and an unemployment rate of 14.1%. 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 Olin?

Olin averages 28.5°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.0 inches with about 39.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Olin?

Olin, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52320.

What is the population of Olin?

The population of Olin, Iowa is 875 with a median age of 32.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Olin?

Key numbers for living in Olin: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $91,200, median household income $62,738, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Olin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.