Parnell is a small town of 241 in Iowa, with a median household income of $59,583
and a 1.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Parnell stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Parnell is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Parnell 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: 90.2
Parnell's overall cost of living index is 90.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Parnell costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Parnell, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$119,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$888
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
84.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,583
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Parnell's violent crime rate is 166.8 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
166.8 /100k
Property Crime
790.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Parnell, IA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
4.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Parnell sees average highs of 28.4°F in January
and 84.0°F in July,
with 38.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.1 inches of snow per year.
Parnell's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Parnell roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $119,300 and median rent is $888/month.
Parnell's violent crime rate is 166.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 790.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Parnell, IA has a population of 241, a median household income of $59,583, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%.
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.
Parnell averages 28.4°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.1 inches
with about 28.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Parnell, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52325.
The population of Parnell, Iowa is 241 with a median age of 44.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Parnell: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $119,300, median household income $59,583, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Parnell side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
.jpg)