What are the schools like in Washburn, IA?

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

What is the median household income in Washburn?

The median household income in Washburn, IA is $72,461 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.7%.

What is the weather like in Washburn, IA?

Washburn has an average high temperature of 28.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Washburn, IA affordable or expensive?

Washburn's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Washburn is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $115,800 and the median rent is N/A per month.

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

Washburn has a violent crime rate of 258.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1350.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Washburn, IA a Good Place to Live?

Washburn is a small town of 594 in Iowa, with a median household income of $72,461 and a 1.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Washburn 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 Washburn is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Washburn 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: 88.0

Washburn's overall cost of living index is 88.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Washburn costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Washburn, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$115,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	92.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$72,461	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Washburn's violent crime rate is 258.3 per 100,000 residents — 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

258.3 /100k

Property Crime

1350.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Washburn, 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	18.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Washburn sees average highs of 28.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July, with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation and 39.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Washburn, IA
Average High — January	28.2°F
Average High — July	85.0°F
Annual Precipitation	38.5"
Annual Snowfall	39.1"

Demographics

Metric	Washburn, IA	National Avg
Population	594	—
Median Age	38.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	18.5%	22.2%
65 and over	19.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Gilbertville, IA 3 mi Evansdale, IA 4 mi Elk Run Heights, IA 4 mi Raymond, IA 5 mi Waterloo, IA 7 mi

Washburn vs Other Cities

Washburn, IA vs Gilbertville, IA Washburn, IA vs Evansdale, IA Washburn, IA vs Elk Run Heights, IA Washburn, IA vs Raymond, IA Washburn, IA vs Waterloo, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Washburn, IA affordable or expensive?

Washburn's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Washburn roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $115,800 and median rent is N/A/month.

What is the crime rate in Washburn, IA?

Washburn's violent crime rate is 258.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1350.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Washburn?

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

Is Washburn, IA a good place to live?

Washburn, IA has a population of 594, a median household income of $72,461, and an unemployment rate of 1.7%. 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 Washburn?

Washburn averages 28.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches with about 39.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Washburn?

The population of Washburn, Iowa is 594 with a median age of 38.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Washburn?

Key numbers for living in Washburn: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $115,800, median household income $72,461, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Washburn side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.