At a Glance
Median Income
$50,417
$25,689 per capita
Home Value
$78,100
Zillow: $85,816
Median Rent
$689/mo
26.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
437/100K
3,229/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
22.9%
91.7% high school+
Unemployment
3.0%
9.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.1%
17.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
56°F
305 sunny days/yr
How Iola Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Iola's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Iola 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
Iola residents earn a median household income of $50,417 , which is 33% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $25,689. The unemployment rate stands at 3.0% (17% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 9.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 400 business establishments, including 33 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Iola is $78,100 , 72% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $85,816. Median rent is $689/month, with 26.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1959.
Safety & Crime
Iola reports 437 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 15% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,229/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
22.9% of adults in Iola hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(32% below the national average).
91.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Iola has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C).
Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 305 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 42.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.
Data Overview
People
Population5,368
Median Age38.4 yrs
Density1,201/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.8%
Economy
B+
Median Income$50,417
Per Capita$25,689
Unemployment3.0%
Poverty9.5%
County GDP$703M
Avg Weekly Wage$882
Housing
A+
Home Value$78,100
Rent$689
Ownership62.3%
Zillow$85,816
Housing Units2,672
Rent Burden26.2%
Crime
F
Violent437/100K
Property3,229/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault342/100K
Burglary741/100K
Health
Obesity38.1%
Diabetes10.2%
Smoking17.7%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death10,475/100K
Climate
Avg Temp56°F
Sunny Days305/yr
Rain42.0 in/yr
AQI39 (Good)
Elevation968 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+22.9%
High School+91.7%
Graduate+6.1%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 72% / D 26%
Commute20 min
Broadband82.7%
Internet Speed69 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries4
Did You Know?
Iola was founded in 1859.
The median home in Iola was built in 1959.
The nearest airport is Joplin Regional (70 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.388 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
17.6% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.