What are the schools like in Sloan, IA?

Sloan is served primarily by Westwood Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.7:1.

What is the median household income in Sloan?

The median household income in Sloan, IA is $69,167 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.6%.

What is the weather like in Sloan, IA?

Sloan has an average high temperature of 30.2°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 31.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Sloan, IA affordable or expensive?

Sloan's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sloan is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $172,700 and the median rent is $938 per month.

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

Sloan has a violent crime rate of 484.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2847.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sloan, IA a Good Place to Live?

Sloan is a small town of 1,051 in Iowa, with a median household income of $69,167 and a 9.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

All Sloan 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: 88.1

Sloan's overall cost of living index is 88.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Sloan costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Sloan, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$172,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$938	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,167	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Sloan's violent crime rate is 484.9 per 100,000 residents — 28% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

484.9 /100k

Property Crime

2847.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Sloan is served primarily by Westwood Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sloan, IA	National Avg
School District	Westwood Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	99.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sloan sees average highs of 30.2°F in January and 86.0°F in July, with 31.6 inches of annual precipitation and 31.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sloan, IA
Average High — January	30.2°F
Average High — July	86.0°F
Annual Precipitation	31.6"
Annual Snowfall	31.0"

Demographics

Metric	Sloan, IA	National Avg
Population	1,051	—
Median Age	38.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.2%	22.2%
65 and over	17.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Salix, IA 6 mi Hornick, IA 7 mi Whiting, IA 8 mi Climbing Hill, IA 10 mi Macy, NE 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Sloan

Sloan, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51055

Sloan vs Other Cities

Sloan, IA vs Salix, IA Sloan, IA vs Hornick, IA Sloan, IA vs Whiting, IA Sloan, IA vs Climbing Hill, IA Sloan, IA vs Macy, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sloan, IA affordable or expensive?

Sloan's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sloan roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $172,700 and median rent is $938/month.

What is the crime rate in Sloan, IA?

Sloan's violent crime rate is 484.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2847.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sloan?

Public schools in Sloan are operated by Westwood Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 27.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sloan, IA a good place to live?

Sloan, IA has a population of 1,051, a median household income of $69,167, and an unemployment rate of 9.6%. 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 Sloan?

Sloan averages 30.2°F in January and 86.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.6 inches with about 31.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sloan?

Sloan, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51055.

What is the population of Sloan?

The population of Sloan, Iowa is 1,051 with a median age of 38.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sloan?

Key numbers for living in Sloan: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $172,700, median household income $69,167, crime index 131 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sloan side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.