What are the schools like in Panora, IA?

Panora is served primarily by Panorama Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.0:1.

What is the median household income in Panora?

The median household income in Panora, IA is $61,438 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.9%.

What is the weather like in Panora, IA?

Panora has an average high temperature of 29.7°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 32.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Panora, IA affordable or expensive?

Panora's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Panora is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $154,400 and the median rent is $991 per month.

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

Panora has a violent crime rate of 92.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 277.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Panora, IA a Good Place to Live?

Panora is a small town of 1,490 in Iowa, with a median household income of $61,438 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

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

All Panora 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: 92.7

Panora's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Panora costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Panora, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$154,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$991	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	72.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$61,438	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Panora's violent crime rate is 92.4 per 100,000 residents — 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

92.4 /100k

Property Crime

277.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Panora is served primarily by Panorama Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Panora, IA	National Avg
School District	Panorama Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Panora sees average highs of 29.7°F in January and 85.1°F in July, with 37.1 inches of annual precipitation and 32.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Panora, IA
Average High — January	29.7°F
Average High — July	85.1°F
Annual Precipitation	37.1"
Annual Snowfall	32.8"

Demographics

Metric	Panora, IA	National Avg
Population	1,490	—
Median Age	40.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	28.6%	22.2%
65 and over	22.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lake Panorama, IA 3 mi Yale, IA 6 mi Linden, IA 6 mi Guthrie Center, IA 7 mi Diamondhead Lake, IA 11 mi

Panora vs Other Cities

Panora, IA vs Lake Panorama, IA Panora, IA vs Yale, IA Panora, IA vs Linden, IA Panora, IA vs Guthrie Center, IA Panora, IA vs Diamondhead Lake, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Panora, IA affordable or expensive?

Panora's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Panora roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $154,400 and median rent is $991/month.

What is the crime rate in Panora, IA?

Panora's violent crime rate is 92.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 277.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Panora?

Public schools in Panora are operated by Panorama Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 22.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Panora, IA a good place to live?

Panora, IA has a population of 1,490, a median household income of $61,438, and an unemployment rate of 7.9%. 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 Panora?

Panora averages 29.7°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.1 inches with about 32.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Panora?

The population of Panora, Iowa is 1,490 with a median age of 40.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Panora?

Key numbers for living in Panora: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $154,400, median household income $61,438, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Panora side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.