What are the schools like in Swea City, IA?

Swea City is served primarily by North Kossuth Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.1:1.

What is the median household income in Swea City?

The median household income in Swea City, IA is $48,906 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

What is the weather like in Swea City, IA?

Swea City has an average high temperature of 21.9°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Swea City, IA affordable or expensive?

Swea City's cost of living index is 81, where 100 represents the national average. This means Swea City is 19% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $45,300 and the median rent is $540 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Swea City, IA?

Swea City has a violent crime rate of 33.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 47.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Swea City, IA a Good Place to Live?

Swea City is a small town of 690 in Iowa, with a median household income of $48,906 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 81 (US average = 100), which is 19% below the national average.

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

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

All Swea City 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: 81.4

Swea City's overall cost of living index is 81.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Swea City costs roughly 19% less than the average American city.

Metric	Swea City, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$45,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$540	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$48,906	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Swea City's violent crime rate is 33.8 per 100,000 residents — 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

33.8 /100k

Property Crime

47.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Swea City is served primarily by North Kossuth Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Swea City, IA	National Avg
School District	North Kossuth Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Swea City sees average highs of 21.9°F in January and 80.8°F in July, with 32.9 inches of annual precipitation and 39.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Swea City, IA
Average High — January	21.9°F
Average High — July	80.8°F
Annual Precipitation	32.9"
Annual Snowfall	39.7"

Demographics

Metric	Swea City, IA	National Avg
Population	690	—
Median Age	39.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.4%	22.2%
65 and over	20.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bancroft, IA 8 mi Ledyard, IA 8 mi Armstrong, IA 9 mi Lakota, IA 11 mi Lone Rock, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Swea City

Swea City, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50590

Swea City vs Other Cities

Swea City, IA vs Bancroft, IA Swea City, IA vs Ledyard, IA Swea City, IA vs Armstrong, IA Swea City, IA vs Lakota, IA Swea City, IA vs Lone Rock, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Swea City, IA affordable or expensive?

Swea City's cost of living index is 81, where 100 is the national average. That makes Swea City roughly 19% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $45,300 and median rent is $540/month.

What is the crime rate in Swea City, IA?

Swea City's violent crime rate is 33.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 47.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Swea City?

Public schools in Swea City are operated by North Kossuth Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.1:1. 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Swea City, IA a good place to live?

Swea City, IA has a population of 690, a median household income of $48,906, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. 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 Swea City?

Swea City averages 21.9°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.9 inches with about 39.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Swea City?

Swea City, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50590.

What is the population of Swea City?

The population of Swea City, Iowa is 690 with a median age of 39.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Swea City?

Key numbers for living in Swea City: cost of living index 81 (100 = US average), median home $45,300, median household income $48,906, crime index 6 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Swea City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.