Stanhope is a small town of 516 in Iowa, with a median household income of $60,208
and a 1.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
Stanhope stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Stanhope is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Stanhope 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: 84.4
Stanhope's overall cost of living index is 84.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Stanhope costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
Stanhope, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$93,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$500
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,208
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Stanhope's violent crime rate is 223.4 per 100,000 residents
— 41% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
223.4 /100k
Property Crime
859.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Stanhope, 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
15.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Stanhope sees average highs of 26.2°F in January
and 82.8°F in July,
with 36.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 32.2 inches of snow per year.
Stanhope's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Stanhope roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $93,800 and median rent is $500/month.
Stanhope's violent crime rate is 223.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 859.7 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.
Stanhope, IA has a population of 516, a median household income of $60,208, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%.
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.
Stanhope averages 26.2°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.3 inches
with about 32.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Stanhope, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50246.
The population of Stanhope, Iowa is 516 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Stanhope: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $93,800, median household income $60,208, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Stanhope side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.