What are the schools like in Osceola, IA?

Osceola is served primarily by Clarke Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Osceola?

The median household income in Osceola, IA is $55,208 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Osceola, IA?

Osceola has an average high temperature of 32.2°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Osceola, IA affordable or expensive?

Osceola's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Osceola is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $108,100 and the median rent is $630 per month.

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

Osceola has a violent crime rate of 160.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2047.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Osceola, IA a Good Place to Live?

Osceola is a small town of 5,455 in Iowa, with a median household income of $55,208 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

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

All Osceola 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: 87.0

Osceola's overall cost of living index is 87.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Osceola costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Osceola, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$108,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$630	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,208	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Osceola's violent crime rate is 160.2 per 100,000 residents — 58% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

160.2 /100k

Property Crime

2047.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Osceola is served primarily by Clarke Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Osceola, IA	National Avg
School District	Clarke Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Osceola sees average highs of 32.2°F in January and 86.5°F in July, with 38.8 inches of annual precipitation and 28.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Osceola, IA
Average High — January	32.2°F
Average High — July	86.5°F
Annual Precipitation	38.8"
Annual Snowfall	28.1"

Demographics

Metric	Osceola, IA	National Avg
Population	5,455	—
Median Age	36.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	17.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	23.8%	22.2%
65 and over	16.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Murray, IA 9 mi Weldon, IA 10 mi Woodburn, IA 10 mi New Virginia, IA 11 mi Van Wert, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Osceola

Osceola, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50213

Osceola vs Other Cities

Osceola, IA vs Murray, IA Osceola, IA vs Weldon, IA Osceola, IA vs Woodburn, IA Osceola, IA vs New Virginia, IA Osceola, IA vs Van Wert, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Osceola, IA affordable or expensive?

Osceola's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Osceola roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $108,100 and median rent is $630/month.

What is the crime rate in Osceola, IA?

Osceola's violent crime rate is 160.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2047.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Osceola?

Public schools in Osceola are operated by Clarke Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 12.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Osceola, IA a good place to live?

Osceola, IA has a population of 5,455, a median household income of $55,208, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. 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 Osceola?

Osceola averages 32.2°F in January and 86.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.8 inches with about 28.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Osceola?

Osceola, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50213.

What is the population of Osceola?

The population of Osceola, Iowa is 5,455 with a median age of 36.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Osceola?

Key numbers for living in Osceola: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $108,100, median household income $55,208, crime index 64 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Osceola side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.