What are the schools like in Iola, WI?

Iola is served primarily by Iola-Scandinavia School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.5:1.

What is the median household income in Iola?

The median household income in Iola, WI is $53,462 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.

What is the weather like in Iola, WI?

Iola has an average high temperature of 25.1°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Iola, WI affordable or expensive?

Iola's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Iola is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $136,900 and the median rent is $699 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Iola, WI?

Iola has a violent crime rate of 76.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 239.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Iola, WI a Good Place to Live?

Iola is a small town of 1,148 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $53,462 and a 5.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Iola stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Iola is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Iola 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: 89.8

Iola's overall cost of living index is 89.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Iola costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Iola, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$136,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$699	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,462	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Iola's violent crime rate is 76.5 per 100,000 residents — 80% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

76.5 /100k

Property Crime

239.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Iola is served primarily by Iola-Scandinavia School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Iola, WI	National Avg
School District	Iola-Scandinavia School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Iola sees average highs of 25.1°F in January and 82.0°F in July, with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation and 49.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Iola, WI
Average High — January	25.1°F
Average High — July	82.0°F
Annual Precipitation	33.8"
Annual Snowfall	49.3"

Demographics

Metric	Iola, WI	National Avg
Population	1,148	—
Median Age	45.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	18.1%	22.2%
65 and over	24.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Scandinavia, WI 4 mi Ogdensburg, WI 6 mi Big Falls, WI 9 mi Amherst, WI 9 mi Nelsonville, WI 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Iola

Iola, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

54945

Iola vs Other Cities

Iola, WI vs Scandinavia, WI Iola, WI vs Ogdensburg, WI Iola, WI vs Big Falls, WI Iola, WI vs Amherst, WI Iola, WI vs Nelsonville, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Iola, WI affordable or expensive?

Iola's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Iola roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $136,900 and median rent is $699/month.

What is the crime rate in Iola, WI?

Iola's violent crime rate is 76.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 239.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Iola?

Public schools in Iola are operated by Iola-Scandinavia School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.5:1. 17.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Iola, WI a good place to live?

Iola, WI has a population of 1,148, a median household income of $53,462, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. 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 Iola?

Iola averages 25.1°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.8 inches with about 49.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Iola?

Iola, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54945.

What is the population of Iola?

The population of Iola, Wisconsin is 1,148 with a median age of 45.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Iola?

Key numbers for living in Iola: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $136,900, median household income $53,462, crime index 17 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Iola side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.