What are the schools like in Thompson, IA?

School district data for Thompson is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Thompson?

The median household income in Thompson, IA is $53,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Thompson, IA?

Thompson has an average high temperature of 22.7°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Thompson, IA affordable or expensive?

Thompson's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Thompson is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $90,500 and the median rent is $684 per month.

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

Crime rate data for Thompson is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Thompson, IA a Good Place to Live?

Thompson is a small town of 466 in Iowa, with a median household income of $53,250 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Thompson stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

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

All Thompson 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: 86.8

Thompson's overall cost of living index is 86.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Thompson costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Thompson, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$90,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$684	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Thompson is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Metric	Thompson, 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	31.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Thompson sees average highs of 22.7°F in January and 81.3°F in July, with 35.9 inches of annual precipitation and 48.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Thompson, IA
Average High — January	22.7°F
Average High — July	81.3°F
Annual Precipitation	35.9"
Annual Snowfall	48.2"

Demographics

Metric	Thompson, IA	National Avg
Population	466	—
Median Age	59.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	98.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	12.2%	22.2%
65 and over	38.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Leland, IA 8 mi Buffalo Center, IA 9 mi Crystal Lake, IA 10 mi Forest City, IA 10 mi Rake, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Thompson

Thompson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50478

Thompson vs Other Cities

Thompson, IA vs Leland, IA Thompson, IA vs Buffalo Center, IA Thompson, IA vs Crystal Lake, IA Thompson, IA vs Forest City, IA Thompson, IA vs Rake, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Thompson, IA affordable or expensive?

Thompson's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Thompson roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $90,500 and median rent is $684/month.

What is the crime rate in Thompson, IA?

Crime data for Thompson is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Thompson?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Thompson, IA a good place to live?

Thompson, IA has a population of 466, a median household income of $53,250, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. 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 Thompson?

Thompson averages 22.7°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.9 inches with about 48.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Thompson?

Thompson, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50478.

What is the population of Thompson?

The population of Thompson, Iowa is 466 with a median age of 59.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Thompson?

Key numbers for living in Thompson: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $90,500, median household income $53,250. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Thompson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.