What are the schools like in Shenandoah, IA?

Shenandoah is served primarily by Shenandoah Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Shenandoah?

The median household income in Shenandoah, IA is $48,859 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.9%.

What is the weather like in Shenandoah, IA?

Shenandoah has an average high temperature of 33.4°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 26.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Shenandoah, IA affordable or expensive?

Shenandoah's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Shenandoah is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $98,200 and the median rent is $756 per month.

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

Shenandoah has a violent crime rate of 656.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 513.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Shenandoah, IA a Good Place to Live?

Shenandoah is a small town of 4,930 in Iowa, with a median household income of $48,859 and a 5.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Shenandoah stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Shenandoah is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Shenandoah 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: 88.0

Shenandoah's overall cost of living index is 88.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Shenandoah costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Shenandoah, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$98,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$756	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,859	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Shenandoah's violent crime rate is 656.8 per 100,000 residents — 73% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

656.8 /100k

Property Crime

513.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Shenandoah is served primarily by Shenandoah Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Shenandoah, IA	National Avg
School District	Shenandoah Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Shenandoah sees average highs of 33.4°F in January and 86.9°F in July, with 36.4 inches of annual precipitation and 26.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Shenandoah, IA
Average High — January	33.4°F
Average High — July	86.9°F
Annual Precipitation	36.4"
Annual Snowfall	26.4"

Demographics

Metric	Shenandoah, IA	National Avg
Population	4,930	—
Median Age	41.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	21.4%	22.2%
65 and over	26.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Essex, IA 6 mi Farragut, IA 6 mi Imogene, IA 9 mi Coin, IA 10 mi Northboro, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Shenandoah

Shenandoah, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51601

Shenandoah vs Other Cities

Shenandoah, IA vs Essex, IA Shenandoah, IA vs Farragut, IA Shenandoah, IA vs Imogene, IA Shenandoah, IA vs Coin, IA Shenandoah, IA vs Northboro, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shenandoah, IA affordable or expensive?

Shenandoah's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Shenandoah roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $98,200 and median rent is $756/month.

What is the crime rate in Shenandoah, IA?

Shenandoah's violent crime rate is 656.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 513.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Shenandoah?

Public schools in Shenandoah are operated by Shenandoah Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 17.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Shenandoah, IA a good place to live?

Shenandoah, IA has a population of 4,930, a median household income of $48,859, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. 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 Shenandoah?

Shenandoah averages 33.4°F in January and 86.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.4 inches with about 26.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Shenandoah?

Shenandoah, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51601.

What is the population of Shenandoah?

The population of Shenandoah, Iowa is 4,930 with a median age of 41.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Shenandoah?

Key numbers for living in Shenandoah: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $98,200, median household income $48,859, crime index 113 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shenandoah side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.