West Bend is a small town of 936 in Iowa, with a median household income of $80,337
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
West Bend 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 West Bend is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Bend 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: 87.1
West Bend's overall cost of living index is 87.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in West Bend costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
West Bend, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$143,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$540
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$80,337
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
West Bend's violent crime rate is 281.3 per 100,000 residents
— 26% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
281.3 /100k
Property Crime
382.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Bend is served primarily by West Bend-Mallard Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
West Bend, IA
National Avg
School District
West Bend-Mallard Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
West Bend sees average highs of 24.9°F in January
and 83.1°F in July,
with 34.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 37.1 inches of snow per year.
West Bend's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes West Bend roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $143,500 and median rent is $540/month.
West Bend's violent crime rate is 281.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 382.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in West Bend are operated by West Bend-Mallard Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
West Bend, IA has a population of 936, a median household income of $80,337, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
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.
West Bend averages 24.9°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.1 inches
with about 37.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
West Bend, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50597.
The population of West Bend, Iowa is 936 with a median age of 35.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in West Bend: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $143,500, median household income $80,337, crime index 52 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare West Bend side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
