What are the schools like in Sumner, IA?

Sumner is served primarily by Sumner-Fredericksburg Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Sumner?

The median household income in Sumner, IA is $59,926 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.1%.

What is the weather like in Sumner, IA?

Sumner has an average high temperature of 24.8°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Sumner, IA affordable or expensive?

Sumner's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Sumner is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $103,800 and the median rent is $591 per month.

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

Sumner has a violent crime rate of 98.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 49.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Sumner, IA a Good Place to Live?

Sumner is a small town of 2,145 in Iowa, with a median household income of $59,926 and a 3.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Sumner is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Sumner 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

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

Metric	Sumner, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$103,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$591	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	75.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,926	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Sumner's violent crime rate is 98.4 per 100,000 residents — 74% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

98.4 /100k

Property Crime

49.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Sumner is served primarily by Sumner-Fredericksburg Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Sumner, IA	National Avg
School District	Sumner-Fredericksburg Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Sumner sees average highs of 24.8°F in January and 82.8°F in July, with 38.6 inches of annual precipitation and 41.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Sumner, IA
Average High — January	24.8°F
Average High — July	82.8°F
Annual Precipitation	38.6"
Annual Snowfall	41.1"

Demographics

Metric	Sumner, IA	National Avg
Population	2,145	—
Median Age	45.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.7%	22.2%
65 and over	21.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Westgate, IA 8 mi Tripoli, IA 9 mi Fredericksburg, IA 9 mi Hawkeye, IA 10 mi Randalia, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Sumner

Sumner, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50674

Sumner vs Other Cities

Sumner, IA vs Westgate, IA Sumner, IA vs Tripoli, IA Sumner, IA vs Fredericksburg, IA Sumner, IA vs Hawkeye, IA Sumner, IA vs Randalia, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sumner, IA affordable or expensive?

Sumner's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Sumner roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $103,800 and median rent is $591/month.

What is the crime rate in Sumner, IA?

Sumner's violent crime rate is 98.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 49.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Sumner?

Public schools in Sumner are operated by Sumner-Fredericksburg Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Sumner, IA a good place to live?

Sumner, IA has a population of 2,145, a median household income of $59,926, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%. 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 Sumner?

Sumner averages 24.8°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.6 inches with about 41.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Sumner?

Sumner, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50674.

What is the population of Sumner?

The population of Sumner, Iowa is 2,145 with a median age of 45.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Sumner?

Key numbers for living in Sumner: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $103,800, median household income $59,926, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sumner side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.