What are the schools like in Packwood, IA?

Packwood is served primarily by Pekin Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Packwood?

The median household income in Packwood, IA is $38,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.3%.

What is the weather like in Packwood, IA?

Packwood has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Packwood, IA affordable or expensive?

Packwood's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Packwood is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $75,300 and the median rent is $625 per month.

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

Packwood has a violent crime rate of 98.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 317.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Packwood, IA a Good Place to Live?

Packwood is a small town of 455 in Iowa, with a median household income of $38,750 and a 10.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

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

All Packwood 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: 85.1

Packwood's overall cost of living index is 85.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Packwood costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric	Packwood, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$75,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$625	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	84.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$38,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Packwood's violent crime rate is 98.4 per 100,000 residents — 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

98.4 /100k

Property Crime

317.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Packwood is served primarily by Pekin Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Packwood, IA	National Avg
School District	Pekin Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Packwood sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July, with 38.4 inches of annual precipitation and 21.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Packwood, IA
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	84.2°F
Annual Precipitation	38.4"
Annual Snowfall	21.7"

Demographics

Metric	Packwood, IA	National Avg
Population	455	—
Median Age	37.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	30.3%	22.2%
65 and over	17.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ollie, IA 5 mi Richland, IA 6 mi Maharishi Vedic City, IA 6 mi Martinsburg, IA 9 mi Batavia, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Packwood

Packwood, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52580

Packwood vs Other Cities

Packwood, IA vs Ollie, IA Packwood, IA vs Richland, IA Packwood, IA vs Maharishi Vedic City, IA Packwood, IA vs Martinsburg, IA Packwood, IA vs Batavia, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Packwood, IA affordable or expensive?

Packwood's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Packwood roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $75,300 and median rent is $625/month.

What is the crime rate in Packwood, IA?

Packwood's violent crime rate is 98.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 317.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Packwood?

Public schools in Packwood are operated by Pekin Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Packwood, IA a good place to live?

Packwood, IA has a population of 455, a median household income of $38,750, and an unemployment rate of 10.3%. 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.

What is the weather like in Packwood?

Packwood averages 30.6°F in January and 84.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.4 inches with about 21.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Packwood?

Packwood, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52580.

What is the population of Packwood?

The population of Packwood, Iowa is 455 with a median age of 37.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Packwood?

Key numbers for living in Packwood: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $75,300, median household income $38,750, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Packwood side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.