Onslow is a small town of 319 in Iowa, with a median household income of $40,588
and a 1.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Onslow stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Onslow is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Onslow 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
Onslow's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Onslow costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Onslow, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$96,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$750
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,588
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Onslow'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
Metric
Onslow, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Onslow sees average highs of 27.4°F in January
and 83.1°F in July,
with 40.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 31.1 inches of snow per year.
Onslow's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Onslow roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $96,700 and median rent is $750/month.
Onslow'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.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Onslow, IA has a population of 319, a median household income of $40,588, and an unemployment rate of 1.6%.
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.
Onslow averages 27.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.0 inches
with about 31.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Onslow, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52321.
The population of Onslow, Iowa is 319 with a median age of 27.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Onslow: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $96,700, median household income $40,588, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Onslow side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.