Charles City, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Floyd County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
7,321 Population 1,196/sq mi density
$56,734 Median Income $30,991 per capita
$118,900 Home Value $147,115 Zillow
$628 Median Rent 26.7% income on rent
47°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.5 / 5.0
$56,734 median income, 4.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$118,900 home value, $628/mo rent
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
15.6% bachelor's degree or higher

Charles City, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$56,734
25% below
$30,991 per capita
Home Value
$118,900
58% below
Zillow: $147,115
Median Rent
$628/mo
46% below
26.7% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
15.6%
54% below
94.2% high school+
Unemployment
4.9%
36% above
8.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.2%
25% above
17.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
47°F

How Charles City Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Charles City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
75%
Home Value
42%
Rent
54%
Poverty
71%
Bachelor's
46%
Unemployment
136%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Charles City a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.6 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Charles City residents earn a median household income of $56,734 , which is 25% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $30,991. The unemployment rate stands at 4.9% (36% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 8.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 478 business establishments, including 23 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Charles City is $118,900 , 58% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $147,115. Median rent is $628/month, with 26.7% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1960.

Education

15.6% of adults in Charles City hold a bachelor's degree or higher (54% below the national average). 94.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Charles City has an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 17°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 37.7 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population7,321
Median Age42.7 yrs
Density1,196/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born5.8%
Veterans9.5%

Economy

B+
Median Income$56,734
Per Capita$30,991
Unemployment4.9%
Poverty8.8%
County GDP$1,165M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,057

Housing

A+
Home Value$118,900
Rent$628
Ownership65.8%
Zillow$147,115
Housing Units3,722
Rent Burden26.7%

Health

Obesity40.2%
Diabetes10.1%
Smoking17.0%
Heart Disease5.6%
Premature Death8,140/100K

Climate

Avg Temp47°F
Rain37.7 in/yr
Elevation995 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+15.6%
High School+94.2%
Graduate+4.6%
School Score5.4/10

Community

2024 VoteR 62% / D 36%
Commute15 min
Broadband80.1%
Internet Speed73 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries5

Did You Know?

Charles City was founded in 1851.
The median home in Charles City was built in 1960.
The nearest airport is Northeast Iowa Regional (3 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.442 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
20.1% of the population has a disability.