What are the schools like in Sanborn, IA?

Sanborn is served primarily by Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.7:1.

What is the median household income in Sanborn?

The median household income in Sanborn, IA is $54,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.7%.

What is the weather like in Sanborn, IA?

Sanborn has an average high temperature of 24.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.4 inches.

Sanborn, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Sanborn, IA affordable or expensive?

Sanborn's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sanborn is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $119,000 and the median rent is $865 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Sanborn, IA?

Sanborn has a violent crime rate of 276.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 618.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sanborn, IA a Good Place to Live?

Sanborn is a small town of 1,536 in Iowa, with a median household income of $54,500 and a 1.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Sanborn 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 Sanborn is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sanborn 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: 90.0

Sanborn's overall cost of living index is 90.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sanborn costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sanborn, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$119,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$865	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	75.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$54,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sanborn's violent crime rate is 276.3 per 100,000 residents — 27% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

276.3 /100k

Property Crime

618.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Sanborn is served primarily by Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sanborn, IA	National Avg
School District	Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sanborn sees average highs of 24.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 32.1 inches of annual precipitation and 41.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sanborn, IA
Average High — January	24.0°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	32.1"
Annual Snowfall	41.4"

Demographics

Metric	Sanborn, IA	National Avg
Population	1,536	—
Median Age	41.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	28.0%	22.2%
65 and over	29.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Archer, IA 6 mi Primghar, IA 7 mi Melvin, IA 8 mi Hartley, IA 9 mi Sheldon, IA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Sanborn

Sanborn, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51248

Sanborn vs Other Cities

Sanborn, IA vs Archer, IA Sanborn, IA vs Primghar, IA Sanborn, IA vs Melvin, IA Sanborn, IA vs Hartley, IA Sanborn, IA vs Sheldon, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sanborn, IA affordable or expensive?

Sanborn's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sanborn roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $119,000 and median rent is $865/month.

What is the crime rate in Sanborn, IA?

Sanborn's violent crime rate is 276.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 618.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sanborn?

Public schools in Sanborn are operated by Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sanborn, IA a good place to live?

Sanborn, IA has a population of 1,536, a median household income of $54,500, and an unemployment rate of 1.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Sanborn?

Sanborn averages 24.0°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.1 inches with about 41.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sanborn?

Sanborn, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51248.

What is the population of Sanborn?

The population of Sanborn, Iowa is 1,536 with a median age of 41.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sanborn?

Key numbers for living in Sanborn: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $119,000, median household income $54,500, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sanborn side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.