What are the schools like in Orleans, IA?

School district data for Orleans is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Orleans?

The median household income in Orleans, IA is $67,833 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.4%.

What is the weather like in Orleans, IA?

Orleans has an average high temperature of 24.0°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Orleans, IA affordable or expensive?

Orleans's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Orleans is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $426,800 and the median rent is $959 per month.

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

Orleans has a violent crime rate of 110.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 446.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Orleans, IA a Good Place to Live?

Orleans is a small town of 690 in Iowa, with a median household income of $67,833 and a 8.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Orleans stands out for a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Orleans 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: 97.1

Orleans's overall cost of living index is 97.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Orleans costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Orleans, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$426,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$959	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	91.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,833	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Orleans's violent crime rate is 110.1 per 100,000 residents — 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

110.1 /100k

Property Crime

446.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Orleans, 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	37.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Orleans sees average highs of 24.0°F in January and 82.8°F in July, with 29.1 inches of annual precipitation and 41.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Orleans, IA
Average High — January	24.0°F
Average High — July	82.8°F
Annual Precipitation	29.1"
Annual Snowfall	41.5"

Demographics

Metric	Orleans, IA	National Avg
Population	690	—
Median Age	55.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	80.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.9%	18.9%
Asian	18.0%	6.3%
Under 18	10.3%	22.2%
65 and over	33.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Spirit Lake, IA 3 mi Okoboji, IA 5 mi Arnolds Park, IA 7 mi Superior, IA 7 mi Wahpeton, IA 7 mi

Orleans vs Other Cities

Orleans, IA vs Spirit Lake, IA Orleans, IA vs Okoboji, IA Orleans, IA vs Arnolds Park, IA Orleans, IA vs Superior, IA Orleans, IA vs Wahpeton, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orleans, IA affordable or expensive?

Orleans's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Orleans roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $426,800 and median rent is $959/month.

What is the crime rate in Orleans, IA?

Orleans's violent crime rate is 110.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 446.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Orleans?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Orleans, IA a good place to live?

Orleans, IA has a population of 690, a median household income of $67,833, and an unemployment rate of 8.4%. 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 Orleans?

Orleans averages 24.0°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.1 inches with about 41.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Orleans?

The population of Orleans, Iowa is 690 with a median age of 55.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Orleans?

Key numbers for living in Orleans: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $426,800, median household income $67,833, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Orleans side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.