Smithland is a small town of 157 in Iowa, with a median household income of $81,750
and a 2.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Smithland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Smithland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Smithland 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
Smithland's overall cost of living index is 88.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Smithland costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Smithland, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$73,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$692
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
94.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$81,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Smithland'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
Metric
Smithland, 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
14.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Smithland sees average highs of 27.7°F in January
and 84.0°F in July,
with 31.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 31.1 inches of snow per year.
Smithland's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Smithland roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $73,300 and median rent is $692/month.
Smithland'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.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Smithland, IA has a population of 157, a median household income of $81,750, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%.
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.
Smithland averages 27.7°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.6 inches
with about 31.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Smithland, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51056.
The population of Smithland, Iowa is 157 with a median age of 57.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Smithland: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $73,300, median household income $81,750, crime index 131 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Smithland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
