Swaledale is a small town of 120 in Iowa, with a median household income of $46,500
and a 3.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 83 (US average = 100), which is
17% below the national average.
Strengths:
Swaledale stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Swaledale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Swaledale 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: 83.1
Swaledale's overall cost of living index is 83.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Swaledale costs roughly 17% less than the average American city.
Metric
Swaledale, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$51,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$609
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
56.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$46,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Swaledale's violent crime rate is 200.2 per 100,000 residents
— 47% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
200.2 /100k
Property Crime
1844.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Swaledale, 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
2.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Swaledale sees average highs of 24.2°F in January
and 82.5°F in July,
with 36.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 44.4 inches of snow per year.
Swaledale's cost of living index is 83, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Swaledale roughly 17% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $51,900 and median rent is $609/month.
Swaledale's violent crime rate is 200.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1844.5 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.
Swaledale, IA has a population of 120, a median household income of $46,500, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%.
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.
Swaledale averages 24.2°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.2 inches
with about 44.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Swaledale, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50477.
The population of Swaledale, Iowa is 120 with a median age of 62.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Swaledale: cost of living index 83 (100 = US average), median home $51,900, median household income $46,500, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Swaledale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.