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Grinnell, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Poweshiek County County

3.6 /5.0
B+ Good
9,527 Population 1,674/sq mi density
$64,426 Median Income $36,382 per capita
$191,700 Home Value $204,472 Zillow
$876 Median Rent 28.8% income on rent
48°F Avg Temperature 275 sunny days/yr
418 Violent Crime/100K 1,789 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.6 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$64,426 median income, 3.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$191,700 home value, $876/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
418 violent crimes/100K (10% above avg)
A
Education
4.3 / 5.0
41.1% bachelor's degree or higher

Grinnell, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$64,426
14% below
$36,382 per capita
Home Value
$191,700
32% below
Zillow: $204,472
Median Rent
$876/mo
25% below
28.8% of income on rent
Violent Crime
418/100K
10% above
1,789/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
41.1%
22% above
95.2% high school+
Unemployment
3.1%
14% below
4.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
42.4%
32% above
15.8% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
48°F
275 sunny days/yr

How Grinnell Compares to the U.S. Average

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

Income
86%
Home Value
68%
Rent
75%
Poverty
35%
Bachelor's
122%
Unemployment
86%
Crime
110%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Grinnell 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

Grinnell residents earn a median household income of $64,426 , which is 14% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $36,382. The unemployment rate stands at 3.1% (14% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 4.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 699 business establishments, including 47 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Grinnell is $191,700 , 32% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $204,472. Median rent is $876/month, with 28.8% 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 1971.

Safety & Crime

Grinnell reports 418 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 10% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 1,789/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.

Education

41.1% of adults in Grinnell hold a bachelor's degree or higher (22% above the national average). 95.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.4/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Grinnell has an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 38.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Data Overview

People

Population9,527
Median Age37.9 yrs
Density1,674/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans6.8%

Economy

A
Median Income$64,426
Per Capita$36,382
Unemployment3.1%
Poverty4.4%
County GDP$1,654M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,108

Housing

A+
Home Value$191,700
Rent$876
Ownership65.1%
Zillow$204,472
Housing Units3,976
Rent Burden28.8%

Crime

F
Violent418/100K
Property1,789/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault161/100K
Burglary171/100K

Health

Obesity42.4%
Diabetes9.8%
Smoking15.8%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death6,568/100K

Climate

Avg Temp48°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain38.2 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation1,003 ft

Education

A
Bachelor's+41.1%
High School+95.2%
Graduate+19.5%
School Score6.4/10

Community

2024 VoteR 58% / D 41%
Commute14 min
Broadband84.7%
Internet Speed52 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3

Did You Know?

Grinnell was founded in 1854.
The median home in Grinnell was built in 1971.
The nearest airport is Ottumwa Regional (46 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.480 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
13.2% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.