Very AffordableVery SafeOskaloosa Comm School District
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Oskaloosa is a small city of 11,492 in Iowa, with a median household income of $57,949
and a 4.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Oskaloosa 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:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Oskaloosa is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Oskaloosa 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: 89.7
Oskaloosa's overall cost of living index is 89.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Oskaloosa costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Oskaloosa, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$123,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$815
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
58.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$57,949
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Oskaloosa's violent crime rate is 140.1 per 100,000 residents
— 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
140.1 /100k
Property Crime
902.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Oskaloosa is served primarily by Oskaloosa Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Oskaloosa, IA
National Avg
School District
Oskaloosa Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Oskaloosa sees average highs of 30.7°F in January
and 85.5°F in July,
with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 23.6 inches of snow per year.
Oskaloosa's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Oskaloosa roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $123,800 and median rent is $815/month.
Oskaloosa's violent crime rate is 140.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 902.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Oskaloosa are operated by Oskaloosa Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 23.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Oskaloosa, IA has a population of 11,492, a median household income of $57,949, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%.
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.
Oskaloosa averages 30.7°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches
with about 23.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Oskaloosa, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52577.
The population of Oskaloosa, Iowa is 11,492 with a median age of 36.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Oskaloosa: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $123,800, median household income $57,949, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Oskaloosa side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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