Very AffordableVery SafeSouth O'Brien Comm School District
Median Income
$75,000
household / year
Median Home Value
$118,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$725
gross / month
Cost of Living
89
national avg = 100
Is Primghar, IA a Good Place to Live?
Primghar is a small town of 870 in Iowa, with a median household income of $75,000
and a 6.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Primghar 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 Primghar is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Primghar 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: 88.6
Primghar's overall cost of living index is 88.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Primghar costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Primghar, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$118,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$725
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
83.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$75,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Primghar's violent crime rate is 276.3 per 100,000 residents
— 27% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
276.3 /100k
Property Crime
618.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Primghar is served primarily by South O'Brien Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Primghar, IA
National Avg
School District
South O'Brien Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Primghar sees average highs of 26.7°F in January
and 84.6°F in July,
with 31.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 34.8 inches of snow per year.
Primghar's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Primghar roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $118,500 and median rent is $725/month.
Primghar's violent crime rate is 276.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 618.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Primghar are operated by South O'Brien Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Primghar, IA has a population of 870, a median household income of $75,000, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%.
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.
Primghar averages 26.7°F in January and 84.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.3 inches
with about 34.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Primghar, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51245.
The population of Primghar, Iowa is 870 with a median age of 40.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Primghar: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $118,500, median household income $75,000, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Primghar side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.