Very AffordableVery SafeStratford Comm School District
Stratford Iowa 20090419 Sign · Ashton B Crew / CC BY 3.0Stratford Iowa 20090419 City Hall · Ashton B Crew / CC BY 3.0M.E. Church in Stratford, Iowa · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainStratford Iowa 20090419 Library · Ashton B Crew / CC BY 3.0
Stratford is a small town of 822 in Iowa, with a median household income of $45,978
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Stratford stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Stratford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Stratford 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: 85.3
Stratford's overall cost of living index is 85.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Stratford costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Stratford, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$84,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$592
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$45,978
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Stratford'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
Stratford is served primarily by Stratford Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Stratford, IA
National Avg
School District
Stratford Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Stratford 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.
Stratford's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Stratford roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $84,500 and median rent is $592/month.
Stratford'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.
Public schools in Stratford are operated by Stratford Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.7:1. 9.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Stratford, IA has a population of 822, a median household income of $45,978, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
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.
Stratford 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).
Stratford, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50249.
The population of Stratford, Iowa is 822 with a median age of 52.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Stratford: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $84,500, median household income $45,978, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Stratford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
