Very AffordableVery SafeRiceville Comm School District
Median Income
$48,009
household / year
Median Home Value
$92,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$957
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100
Is Riceville, IA a Good Place to Live?
Riceville is a small town of 962 in Iowa, with a median household income of $48,009
and a 2.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Riceville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Riceville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Riceville 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: 89.6
Riceville's overall cost of living index is 89.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Riceville costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Riceville, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$92,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$957
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,009
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Riceville's violent crime rate is 109.2 per 100,000 residents
— 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
109.2 /100k
Property Crime
349.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Riceville is served primarily by Riceville Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Riceville, IA
National Avg
School District
Riceville Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Riceville sees average highs of 23.2°F in January
and 81.4°F in July,
with 38.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.6 inches of snow per year.
Riceville's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Riceville roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $92,900 and median rent is $957/month.
Riceville's violent crime rate is 109.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 349.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Riceville are operated by Riceville Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Riceville, IA has a population of 962, a median household income of $48,009, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%.
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.
Riceville averages 23.2°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.1 inches
with about 39.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Riceville, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50466.
The population of Riceville, Iowa is 962 with a median age of 36.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Riceville: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $92,900, median household income $48,009, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Riceville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.