What are the schools like in Ossian, IA?

Ossian is served primarily by South Winneshiek Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

What is the median household income in Ossian?

The median household income in Ossian, IA is $64,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

What is the weather like in Ossian, IA?

Ossian has an average high temperature of 27.7°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Ossian, IA affordable or expensive?

Ossian's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ossian is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $135,700 and the median rent is $683 per month.

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

Ossian has a violent crime rate of 130.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 165.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ossian, IA a Good Place to Live?

Ossian is a small town of 847 in Iowa, with a median household income of $64,250 and a 2.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Ossian stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ossian is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ossian 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: 88.7

Ossian's overall cost of living index is 88.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ossian costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ossian, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$135,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$683	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	84.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ossian's violent crime rate is 130.1 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

130.1 /100k

Property Crime

165.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Ossian is served primarily by South Winneshiek Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ossian, IA	National Avg
School District	South Winneshiek Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ossian sees average highs of 27.7°F in January and 84.4°F in July, with 38.3 inches of annual precipitation and 37.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ossian, IA
Average High — January	27.7°F
Average High — July	84.4°F
Annual Precipitation	38.3"
Annual Snowfall	37.5"

Demographics

Metric	Ossian, IA	National Avg
Population	847	—
Median Age	40.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.8%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	20.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Castalia, IA 5 mi Calmar, IA 6 mi Fort Atkinson, IA 9 mi St. Lucas, IA 10 mi Spillville, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Ossian

Ossian, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52161

Ossian vs Other Cities

Ossian, IA vs Castalia, IA Ossian, IA vs Calmar, IA Ossian, IA vs Fort Atkinson, IA Ossian, IA vs St. Lucas, IA Ossian, IA vs Spillville, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ossian, IA affordable or expensive?

Ossian's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ossian roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $135,700 and median rent is $683/month.

What is the crime rate in Ossian, IA?

Ossian's violent crime rate is 130.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 165.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ossian?

Public schools in Ossian are operated by South Winneshiek Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 22.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ossian, IA a good place to live?

Ossian, IA has a population of 847, a median household income of $64,250, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. 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 Ossian?

Ossian averages 27.7°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.3 inches with about 37.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ossian?

Ossian, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52161.

What is the population of Ossian?

The population of Ossian, Iowa is 847 with a median age of 40.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ossian?

Key numbers for living in Ossian: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $135,700, median household income $64,250, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ossian side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.