Wayland is a small town of 1,148 in Iowa, with a median household income of $66,731
and a 2.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wayland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Wayland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wayland 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: 87.5
Wayland's overall cost of living index is 87.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wayland costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wayland, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$115,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$643
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$66,731
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Wayland's violent crime rate is 145.3 per 100,000 residents
— 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
145.3 /100k
Property Crime
661.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wayland is served primarily by WACO Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Wayland, IA
National Avg
School District
WACO Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wayland sees average highs of 30.2°F in January
and 85.0°F in July,
with 38.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 34.1 inches of snow per year.
Wayland's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wayland roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $115,200 and median rent is $643/month.
Wayland's violent crime rate is 145.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 661.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wayland are operated by WACO Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 18.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wayland, IA has a population of 1,148, a median household income of $66,731, 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.
Wayland averages 30.2°F in January and 85.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.3 inches
with about 34.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Wayland, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52654.
The population of Wayland, Iowa is 1,148 with a median age of 45.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wayland: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $115,200, median household income $66,731, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wayland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
