Rome is a small town of 72 in Iowa, with a median household income of $36,250
.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rome stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Rome is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rome 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: 85.5
Rome's overall cost of living index is 85.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rome costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rome, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$35,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,054
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
68.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$36,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Rome's violent crime rate is 145.3 per 100,000 residents
— 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
145.3 /100k
Property Crime
661.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Rome, 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
3.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
81.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rome sees average highs of 31.4°F in January
and 84.8°F in July,
with 39.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 25.7 inches of snow per year.
Rome's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rome roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $35,000 and median rent is $1,054/month.
Rome's violent crime rate is 145.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 661.5 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.
Rome, IA has a population of 72, a median household income of $36,250, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Rome averages 31.4°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.1 inches
with about 25.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Rome, Iowa is 72 with a median age of 47.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rome: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $35,000, median household income $36,250, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rome side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
