What are the schools like in Tama, IA?

Tama is served primarily by South Tama County. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1.

What is the median household income in Tama?

The median household income in Tama, IA is $59,129 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.7%.

What is the weather like in Tama, IA?

Tama has an average high temperature of 26.8°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 32.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Tama, IA affordable or expensive?

Tama's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Tama is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $97,200 and the median rent is $829 per month.

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

Tama has a violent crime rate of 148.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 249.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Tama, IA a Good Place to Live?

Tama is a small town of 3,073 in Iowa, with a median household income of $59,129 and a 7.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Tama is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Tama 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: 88.6

Tama's overall cost of living index is 88.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Tama costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Tama, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$97,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$829	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,129	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Tama's violent crime rate is 148.3 per 100,000 residents — 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

148.3 /100k

Property Crime

249.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Tama is served primarily by South Tama County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Tama, IA	National Avg
School District	South Tama County	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Tama sees average highs of 26.8°F in January and 83.0°F in July, with 35.2 inches of annual precipitation and 32.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Tama, IA
Average High — January	26.8°F
Average High — July	83.0°F
Annual Precipitation	35.2"
Annual Snowfall	32.8"

Demographics

Metric	Tama, IA	National Avg
Population	3,073	—
Median Age	31.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	65.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	21.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	32.2%	22.2%
65 and over	15.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Toledo, IA 2 mi Montour, IA 7 mi Chelsea, IA 10 mi Vining, IA 10 mi Garwin, IA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Tama

Tama, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52339

Tama vs Other Cities

Tama, IA vs Toledo, IA Tama, IA vs Montour, IA Tama, IA vs Chelsea, IA Tama, IA vs Vining, IA Tama, IA vs Garwin, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tama, IA affordable or expensive?

Tama's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Tama roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $97,200 and median rent is $829/month.

What is the crime rate in Tama, IA?

Tama's violent crime rate is 148.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 249.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Tama?

Public schools in Tama are operated by South Tama County. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 12.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Tama, IA a good place to live?

Tama, IA has a population of 3,073, a median household income of $59,129, and an unemployment rate of 7.7%. 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 Tama?

Tama averages 26.8°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.2 inches with about 32.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Tama?

Tama, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52339.

What is the population of Tama?

The population of Tama, Iowa is 3,073 with a median age of 31.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Tama?

Key numbers for living in Tama: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $97,200, median household income $59,129, crime index 28 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tama side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.