Sign In Register

Decorah, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Winneshiek County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
7,597 Population 1,049/sq mi density
$62,177 Median Income $34,046 per capita
$234,600 Home Value $298,078 Zillow
$788 Median Rent 26.9% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature 260 sunny days/yr
120 Violent Crime/100K 983 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.2 / 5.0
$62,177 median income, 2.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$234,600 home value, $788/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
120 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
4.7 / 5.0
46.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Decorah, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$62,177
17% below
$34,046 per capita
Home Value
$234,600
17% below
Zillow: $298,078
Median Rent
$788/mo
32% below
26.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
120/100K
69% below
983/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
46.1%
37% above
96.2% high school+
Unemployment
2.5%
31% below
4.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.9%
12% above
12.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F
260 sunny days/yr

How Decorah Compares to the U.S. Average

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

Income
83%
Home Value
83%
Rent
68%
Poverty
36%
Bachelor's
137%
Unemployment
69%
Crime
31%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Decorah 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

Decorah residents earn a median household income of $62,177 , which is 17% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $34,046. The unemployment rate stands at 2.5% (31% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 4.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 767 business establishments, including 60 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Decorah is $234,600 , 17% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $298,078. Median rent is $788/month, with 26.9% 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 1964.

Safety & Crime

Decorah reports 120 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 69% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 983/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.

Education

46.1% of adults in Decorah hold a bachelor's degree or higher (37% above the national average). 96.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.7/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Decorah has an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 260 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 37.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Data Overview

People

Population7,597
Median Age36.5 yrs
Density1,049/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.6%

Economy

A
Median Income$62,177
Per Capita$34,046
Unemployment2.5%
Poverty4.5%
County GDP$1,354M
Avg Weekly Wage$989

Housing

A+
Home Value$234,600
Rent$788
Ownership64.7%
Zillow$298,078
Housing Units3,134
Rent Burden26.9%

Crime

F
Violent120/100K
Property983/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault66/100K
Burglary27/100K

Health

Obesity35.9%
Diabetes8.3%
Smoking12.9%
Heart Disease4.8%
Premature Death4,480/100K

Climate

Avg Temp49°F
Sunny Days260/yr
Rain37.6 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation869 ft

Education

A+
Bachelor's+46.1%
High School+96.2%
Graduate+19.3%
School Score6.7/10

Community

2024 VoteR 54% / D 45%
Commute12 min
Broadband87.9%
Internet Speed71 Mbps
EV Stations8
Libraries5

Did You Know?

Decorah was founded in 1849.
The median home in Decorah was built in 1964.
The nearest airport is Northeast Iowa Regional (45 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.440 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
10.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.