What are the schools like in Vinton, IA?

Vinton is served primarily by Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

What is the median household income in Vinton?

The median household income in Vinton, IA is $63,100 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

What is the weather like in Vinton, IA?

Vinton has an average high temperature of 25.6°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 33.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Vinton, IA affordable or expensive?

Vinton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Vinton is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $153,800 and the median rent is $923 per month.

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

Vinton has a violent crime rate of 60.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 362.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Vinton, IA a Good Place to Live?

Vinton is a small town of 4,953 in Iowa, with a median household income of $63,100 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

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

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

All Vinton 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: 90.0

Vinton's overall cost of living index is 90.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Vinton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Vinton, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$153,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$923	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,100	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Vinton's violent crime rate is 60.5 per 100,000 residents — 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

60.5 /100k

Property Crime

362.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Vinton is served primarily by Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Vinton, IA	National Avg
School District	Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Vinton sees average highs of 25.6°F in January and 81.4°F in July, with 37.9 inches of annual precipitation and 33.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Vinton, IA
Average High — January	25.6°F
Average High — July	81.4°F
Annual Precipitation	37.9"
Annual Snowfall	33.6"

Demographics

Metric	Vinton, IA	National Avg
Population	4,953	—
Median Age	44.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	23.7%	22.2%
65 and over	22.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Garrison, IA 6 mi Mount Auburn, IA 7 mi Urbana, IA 9 mi Shellsburg, IA 9 mi Brandon, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Vinton

Vinton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52349

Vinton vs Other Cities

Vinton, IA vs Garrison, IA Vinton, IA vs Mount Auburn, IA Vinton, IA vs Urbana, IA Vinton, IA vs Shellsburg, IA Vinton, IA vs Brandon, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vinton, IA affordable or expensive?

Vinton's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Vinton roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $153,800 and median rent is $923/month.

What is the crime rate in Vinton, IA?

Vinton's violent crime rate is 60.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 362.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Vinton?

Public schools in Vinton are operated by Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 27.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Vinton, IA a good place to live?

Vinton, IA has a population of 4,953, a median household income of $63,100, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. 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 Vinton?

Vinton averages 25.6°F in January and 81.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.9 inches with about 33.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Vinton?

Vinton, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52349.

What is the population of Vinton?

The population of Vinton, Iowa is 4,953 with a median age of 44.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Vinton?

Key numbers for living in Vinton: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $153,800, median household income $63,100, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Vinton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.