Very AffordableVery SafeRuthven-Ayrshire Comm School District
Median Income
$62,250
household / year
Median Home Value
$89,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$581
gross / month
Cost of Living
85
national avg = 100
Is Ruthven, IA a Good Place to Live?
Ruthven is a small town of 746 in Iowa, with a median household income of $62,250
and a 3.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ruthven stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ruthven is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ruthven 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: 85.4
Ruthven's overall cost of living index is 85.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ruthven costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ruthven, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$89,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$581
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ruthven's violent crime rate is 281.3 per 100,000 residents
— 26% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
281.3 /100k
Property Crime
382.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ruthven is served primarily by Ruthven-Ayrshire Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Ruthven, IA
National Avg
School District
Ruthven-Ayrshire Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ruthven sees average highs of 26.2°F in January
and 84.8°F in July,
with 33.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 37.1 inches of snow per year.
Ruthven's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ruthven roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $89,600 and median rent is $581/month.
Ruthven's violent crime rate is 281.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 382.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ruthven are operated by Ruthven-Ayrshire Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.5:1. 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ruthven, IA has a population of 746, a median household income of $62,250, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%.
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.
Ruthven averages 26.2°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.6 inches
with about 37.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ruthven, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51358.
The population of Ruthven, Iowa is 746 with a median age of 42.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ruthven: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $89,600, median household income $62,250, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ruthven side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.