Westside is a small town of 296 in Iowa, with a median household income of $61,563
.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Westside 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 Westside is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Westside 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: 87.9
Westside's overall cost of living index is 87.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Westside costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Westside, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$110,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$700
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
93.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$61,563
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Westside's violent crime rate is 71.3 per 100,000 residents
— 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
71.3 /100k
Property Crime
404.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Westside is served primarily by Ar-We-Va Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Westside, IA
National Avg
School District
Ar-We-Va Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Westside sees average highs of 27.4°F in January
and 83.1°F in July,
with 33.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 34.5 inches of snow per year.
Westside's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Westside roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $110,000 and median rent is $700/month.
Westside's violent crime rate is 71.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 404.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Westside are operated by Ar-We-Va Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 23.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Westside, IA has a population of 296, a median household income of $61,563, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Westside averages 27.4°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.6 inches
with about 34.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Westside, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51467.
The population of Westside, Iowa is 296 with a median age of 45.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Westside: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $110,000, median household income $61,563, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Westside side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
