What are the schools like in Orient, IA?

Orient is served primarily by Orient-Macksburg Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8.3:1.

What is the median household income in Orient?

The median household income in Orient, IA is $66,563 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.5%.

What is the weather like in Orient, IA?

Orient has an average high temperature of 29.6°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 25.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Orient, IA affordable or expensive?

Orient's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Orient is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $96,600 and the median rent is $685 per month.

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

Orient has a violent crime rate of 125.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 307.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Orient, IA a Good Place to Live?

Orient is a small town of 417 in Iowa, with a median household income of $66,563 and a 11.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

All Orient 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: 87.1

Orient's overall cost of living index is 87.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Orient costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Orient, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$96,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$685	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,563	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Orient's violent crime rate is 125.8 per 100,000 residents — 67% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

125.8 /100k

Property Crime

307.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Orient is served primarily by Orient-Macksburg Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Orient, IA	National Avg
School District	Orient-Macksburg Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	8.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Orient sees average highs of 29.6°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 36.5 inches of annual precipitation and 25.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Orient, IA
Average High — January	29.6°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	36.5"
Annual Snowfall	25.5"

Demographics

Metric	Orient, IA	National Avg
Population	417	—
Median Age	46.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.9%	22.2%
65 and over	25.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Greenfield, IA 7 mi Fontanelle, IA 10 mi Creston, IA 10 mi Cromwell, IA 11 mi Macksburg, IA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Orient

Orient, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50858

Orient vs Other Cities

Orient, IA vs Greenfield, IA Orient, IA vs Fontanelle, IA Orient, IA vs Creston, IA Orient, IA vs Cromwell, IA Orient, IA vs Macksburg, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orient, IA affordable or expensive?

Orient's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Orient roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $96,600 and median rent is $685/month.

What is the crime rate in Orient, IA?

Orient's violent crime rate is 125.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 307.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Orient?

Public schools in Orient are operated by Orient-Macksburg Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.3:1. 9.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Orient, IA a good place to live?

Orient, IA has a population of 417, a median household income of $66,563, and an unemployment rate of 11.5%. 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 Orient?

Orient averages 29.6°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.5 inches with about 25.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Orient?

Orient, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50858.

What is the population of Orient?

The population of Orient, Iowa is 417 with a median age of 46.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Orient?

Key numbers for living in Orient: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $96,600, median household income $66,563, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Orient side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.