Peterson is a small town of 382 in Iowa, with a median household income of $68,750
and a 3.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Peterson 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 Peterson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Peterson 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: 85.0
Peterson's overall cost of living index is 85.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Peterson costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Peterson, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$73,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$625
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$68,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Peterson's violent crime rate is 81.2 per 100,000 residents
— 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
81.2 /100k
Property Crime
761.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Peterson, 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
22.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Peterson sees average highs of 25.3°F in January
and 81.9°F in July,
with 32.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 35.2 inches of snow per year.
Peterson's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Peterson roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $73,300 and median rent is $625/month.
Peterson's violent crime rate is 81.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 761.7 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.
Peterson, IA has a population of 382, a median household income of $68,750, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%.
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.
Peterson averages 25.3°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.0 inches
with about 35.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Peterson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51047.
The population of Peterson, Iowa is 382 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Peterson: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $73,300, median household income $68,750, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Peterson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
