What are the schools like in Vail, IA?

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

What is the median household income in Vail?

The median household income in Vail, IA is $56,154 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.

What is the weather like in Vail, IA?

Vail has an average high temperature of 27.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 34.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Vail, IA affordable or expensive?

Vail's cost of living index is 85, where 100 represents the national average. This means Vail is 15% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $73,800 and the median rent is $600 per month.

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

Vail has a violent crime rate of 71.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 404.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Vail, IA a Good Place to Live?

Vail is a small town of 512 in Iowa, with a median household income of $56,154 and a 2.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is 15% below the national average.

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

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

All Vail 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: 84.7

Vail's overall cost of living index is 84.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Vail costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.

Metric	Vail, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$73,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$600	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	88.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$56,154	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Vail's violent crime rate is 71.3 per 100,000 residents — 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

71.3 /100k

Property Crime

404.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Vail, 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	13.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	77.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Vail sees average highs of 27.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 33.6 inches of annual precipitation and 34.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Vail, IA
Average High — January	27.4°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	33.6"
Annual Snowfall	34.5"

Demographics

Metric	Vail, IA	National Avg
Population	512	—
Median Age	36.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	20.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	34.0%	22.2%
65 and over	12.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Westside, IA 5 mi Deloit, IA 7 mi Arcadia, IA 8 mi Denison, IA 8 mi Aspinwall, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Vail

Vail, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51465

Vail vs Other Cities

Vail, IA vs Westside, IA Vail, IA vs Deloit, IA Vail, IA vs Arcadia, IA Vail, IA vs Denison, IA Vail, IA vs Aspinwall, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vail, IA affordable or expensive?

Vail's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average. That makes Vail roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $73,800 and median rent is $600/month.

What is the crime rate in Vail, IA?

Vail's violent crime rate is 71.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 404.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Vail?

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

Is Vail, IA a good place to live?

Vail, IA has a population of 512, a median household income of $56,154, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. 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.

What is the weather like in Vail?

Vail averages 27.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.6 inches with about 34.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Vail?

Vail, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51465.

What is the population of Vail?

The population of Vail, Iowa is 512 with a median age of 36.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Vail?

Key numbers for living in Vail: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $73,800, median household income $56,154, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Vail side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.