Riverdale is a small town of 491 in Iowa, with a median household income of $86,250
and a 5.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Riverdale stands out for an affordable cost of living, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Riverdale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Riverdale 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: 89.3
Riverdale's overall cost of living index is 89.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Riverdale costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Riverdale, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$281,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,693
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$86,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Riverdale's violent crime rate is 393.8 per 100,000 residents
— 4% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
393.8 /100k
Property Crime
2347.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Riverdale, 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
34.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Riverdale sees average highs of 30.5°F in January
and 85.0°F in July,
with 37.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.1 inches of snow per year.
Riverdale's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Riverdale roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $281,000 and median rent is $1,693/month.
Riverdale's violent crime rate is 393.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2347.6 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.
Riverdale, IA has a population of 491, a median household income of $86,250, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%.
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.
Riverdale averages 30.5°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.5 inches
with about 36.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Riverdale, Iowa is 491 with a median age of 43.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Riverdale: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $281,000, median household income $86,250, crime index 107 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Riverdale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
