University Park is a small town of 566 in Iowa, with a median household income of $63,162
and a 3.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
University Park 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 University Park is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All University Park 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: 87.4
University Park's overall cost of living index is 87.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in University Park costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
University Park, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$89,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$745
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$63,162
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
University Park's violent crime rate is 122.2 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
122.2 /100k
Property Crime
620.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
University Park, 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
22.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
University Park sees average highs of 30.7°F in January
and 85.5°F in July,
with 38.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 23.6 inches of snow per year.
University Park's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes University Park roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $89,700 and median rent is $745/month.
University Park's violent crime rate is 122.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 620.0 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.
University Park, IA has a population of 566, a median household income of $63,162, and an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
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.
University Park averages 30.7°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.7 inches
with about 23.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
University Park, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52595.
The population of University Park, Iowa is 566 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in University Park: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $89,700, median household income $63,162, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare University Park side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
