Creston, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Union County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
7,466 Population 1,439/sq mi density
$50,752 Median Income $28,905 per capita
$112,600 Home Value $156,116 Zillow
$672 Median Rent 26.3% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
272 Violent Crime/100K 1,035 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.3 / 5.0
$50,752 median income, 4.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$112,600 home value, $672/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
272 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.9 / 5.0
23.9% bachelor's degree or higher

Creston, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$50,752
32% below
$28,905 per capita
Home Value
$112,600
60% below
Zillow: $156,116
Median Rent
$672/mo
42% below
26.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
272/100K
28% below
1,035/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
23.9%
29% below
93.9% high school+
Unemployment
4.0%
11% above
13.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.5%
20% above
17.4% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F

How Creston Compares to the U.S. Average

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

Income
68%
Home Value
40%
Rent
58%
Poverty
106%
Bachelor's
71%
Unemployment
111%
Crime
72%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Creston a Good Place to Live?

B
3.1 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Creston residents earn a median household income of $50,752 , which is 32% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $28,905. The unemployment rate stands at 4.0% (11% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 13.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 459 business establishments, including 27 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Creston is $112,600 , 60% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $156,116. Median rent is $672/month, with 26.3% 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.

Safety & Crime

Creston reports 272 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 28% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 1,035/100K.

Education

23.9% of adults in Creston hold a bachelor's degree or higher (29% below the national average). 93.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Creston has an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 37.9 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population7,466
Median Age39.7 yrs
Density1,439/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born0.3%
Veterans9.6%

Economy

B
Median Income$50,752
Per Capita$28,905
Unemployment4.0%
Poverty13.1%
County GDP$965M
Avg Weekly Wage$962

Housing

A+
Home Value$112,600
Rent$672
Ownership65.6%
Zillow$156,116
Housing Units3,814
Rent Burden26.3%

Crime

F
Violent272/100K
Property1,035/100K

Health

Obesity38.5%
Diabetes10.2%
Smoking17.4%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death8,896/100K

Climate

Avg Temp49°F
Rain37.9 in/yr
Elevation1,290 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+23.9%
High School+93.9%
Graduate+7.7%
School Score5.2/10

Community

2024 VoteR 67% / D 31%
Commute12 min
Broadband89.0%
Internet Speed85 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries1

Did You Know?

Creston was founded in 1868.
The median home in Creston was built in 1960.
The nearest airport is Des Moines International (46 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.421 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
17.6% of the population has a disability.
91 declared natural disasters on record.