Rowley is a small town of 353 in Iowa, with a median household income of $59,167
and a 9.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rowley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Rowley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rowley 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: 90.9
Rowley's overall cost of living index is 90.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rowley costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rowley, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$118,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$975
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,167
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Rowley's violent crime rate is 118.1 per 100,000 residents
— 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
118.1 /100k
Property Crime
415.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Rowley, 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
21.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rowley sees average highs of 26.5°F in January
and 83.0°F in July,
with 37.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 33.9 inches of snow per year.
Rowley's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rowley roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $118,800 and median rent is $975/month.
Rowley's violent crime rate is 118.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 415.6 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.
Rowley, IA has a population of 353, a median household income of $59,167, and an unemployment rate of 9.4%.
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.
Rowley averages 26.5°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.4 inches
with about 33.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rowley, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52329.
The population of Rowley, Iowa is 353 with a median age of 42.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rowley: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $118,800, median household income $59,167, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rowley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.