Mason City is a small town of 152 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $47,212
.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mason City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Mason City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mason City 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: 90.4
Mason City's overall cost of living index is 90.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mason City costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mason City, NE
National Avg
Median Home Value
$175,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$725
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
78.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,212
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Mason City's violent crime rate is 65.0 per 100,000 residents
— 83% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
65.0 /100k
Property Crime
389.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Mason City, NE
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
38.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mason City sees average highs of 36.8°F in January
and 87.1°F in July,
with 26.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 25.9 inches of snow per year.
Mason City's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mason City roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $175,000 and median rent is $725/month.
Mason City's violent crime rate is 65.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 389.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Mason City, NE has a population of 152, a median household income of $47,212, 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.
Mason City averages 36.8°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.3 inches
with about 25.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mason City, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68855.
The population of Mason City, Nebraska is 152 with a median age of 32.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mason City: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $175,000, median household income $47,212, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mason City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
