What are the schools like in Waukon, IA?

Waukon is served primarily by Allamakee Comm School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Waukon?

The median household income in Waukon, IA is $52,738 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Waukon, IA?

Waukon has an average high temperature of 24.0°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 39.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Waukon, IA affordable or expensive?

Waukon's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waukon is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $120,500 and the median rent is $728 per month.

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

Waukon has a violent crime rate of 26.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 425.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waukon, IA a Good Place to Live?

Waukon is a small town of 3,818 in Iowa, with a median household income of $52,738 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Waukon 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: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Waukon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waukon 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: 88.7

Waukon's overall cost of living index is 88.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waukon costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waukon, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$120,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$728	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,738	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Waukon's violent crime rate is 26.6 per 100,000 residents — 93% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

26.6 /100k

Property Crime

425.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Waukon is served primarily by Allamakee Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waukon, IA	National Avg
School District	Allamakee Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waukon sees average highs of 24.0°F in January and 81.3°F in July, with 39.2 inches of annual precipitation and 39.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waukon, IA
Average High — January	24.0°F
Average High — July	81.3°F
Annual Precipitation	39.2"
Annual Snowfall	39.8"

Demographics

Metric	Waukon, IA	National Avg
Population	3,818	—
Median Age	41.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	24.4%	22.2%
65 and over	25.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Waterville, IA 10 mi Postville, IA 14 mi Lansing, IA 14 mi Luana, IA 14 mi Castalia, IA 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Waukon

Waukon, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

52172

Waukon vs Other Cities

Waukon, IA vs Waterville, IA Waukon, IA vs Postville, IA Waukon, IA vs Lansing, IA Waukon, IA vs Luana, IA Waukon, IA vs Castalia, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waukon, IA affordable or expensive?

Waukon's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waukon roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $120,500 and median rent is $728/month.

What is the crime rate in Waukon, IA?

Waukon's violent crime rate is 26.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 425.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waukon?

Public schools in Waukon are operated by Allamakee Comm School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 20.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waukon, IA a good place to live?

Waukon, IA has a population of 3,818, a median household income of $52,738, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. 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 Waukon?

Waukon averages 24.0°F in January and 81.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.2 inches with about 39.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waukon?

Waukon, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52172.

What is the population of Waukon?

The population of Waukon, Iowa is 3,818 with a median age of 41.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waukon?

Key numbers for living in Waukon: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $120,500, median household income $52,738, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waukon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.