What are the schools like in Pierson, IA?

Pierson is served primarily by Kingsley-Pierson Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.4:1.

What is the median household income in Pierson?

The median household income in Pierson, IA is $56,667 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.1%.

What is the weather like in Pierson, IA?

Pierson has an average high temperature of 25.7°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 35.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Pierson, IA affordable or expensive?

Pierson's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Pierson is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $84,400 and the median rent is $650 per month.

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

Pierson has a violent crime rate of 484.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2847.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Pierson, IA a Good Place to Live?

Pierson is a small town of 325 in Iowa, with a median household income of $56,667 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Pierson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Pierson 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: 88.1

Pierson's overall cost of living index is 88.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pierson costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Pierson, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$84,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$650	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,667	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Pierson's violent crime rate is 484.9 per 100,000 residents — 28% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

484.9 /100k

Property Crime

2847.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Pierson is served primarily by Kingsley-Pierson Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Pierson, IA	National Avg
School District	Kingsley-Pierson Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Pierson sees average highs of 25.7°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 33.2 inches of annual precipitation and 35.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Pierson, IA
Average High — January	25.7°F
Average High — July	81.4°F
Annual Precipitation	33.2"
Annual Snowfall	35.3"

Demographics

Metric	Pierson, IA	National Avg
Population	325	—
Median Age	32.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	36.0%	22.2%
65 and over	11.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Kingsley, IA 6 mi Correctionville, IA 6 mi Washta, IA 8 mi Anthon, IA 11 mi Moville, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Pierson

Pierson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51048

Pierson vs Other Cities

Pierson, IA vs Kingsley, IA Pierson, IA vs Correctionville, IA Pierson, IA vs Washta, IA Pierson, IA vs Anthon, IA Pierson, IA vs Moville, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pierson, IA affordable or expensive?

Pierson's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Pierson roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $84,400 and median rent is $650/month.

What is the crime rate in Pierson, IA?

Pierson's violent crime rate is 484.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2847.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Pierson?

Public schools in Pierson are operated by Kingsley-Pierson Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.4:1. 9.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Pierson, IA a good place to live?

Pierson, IA has a population of 325, a median household income of $56,667, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%. 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 Pierson?

Pierson averages 25.7°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.2 inches with about 35.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Pierson?

Pierson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51048.

What is the population of Pierson?

The population of Pierson, Iowa is 325 with a median age of 32.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Pierson?

Key numbers for living in Pierson: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $84,400, median household income $56,667, crime index 131 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pierson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.