At a Glance
Median Income
$62,369
$36,527 per capita
Home Value
$130,000
Zillow: $160,992
Median Rent
$874/mo
24.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
21.3%
93.3% high school+
Unemployment
3.0%
7.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.1%
17.3% smoking rate
How Mason City Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Mason City's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Mason City a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.9 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Mason City residents earn a median household income of $62,369 , which is 17% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $36,527. The unemployment rate stands at 3.0% (17% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,681 business establishments, including 127 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Mason City is $130,000 , 54% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $160,992. Median rent is $874/month, with 24.0% 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 1955.
Education
21.3% of adults in Mason City hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(37% below the national average).
93.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Mason City has an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C).
Winters average 16°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 37.7 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population27,135
Median Age43.0 yrs
Density962/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born2.5%
Veterans7.5%
Economy
A
Median Income$62,369
Per Capita$36,527
Unemployment3.0%
Poverty7.3%
County GDP$3,729M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,057
Housing
A+
Home Value$130,000
Rent$874
Ownership67.6%
Zillow$160,992
Housing Units14,123
Rent Burden24.0%
Health
Obesity41.1%
Diabetes9.9%
Smoking17.3%
Heart Disease5.7%
Premature Death9,468/100K
Climate
Avg Temp46°F
Rain37.7 in/yr
Elevation1,106 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+21.3%
High School+93.3%
Graduate+7.2%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 55% / D 43%
Commute14 min
Broadband87.1%
Internet Speed129 Mbps
EV Stations6
Libraries7
Did You Know?
The median home in Mason City was built in 1955.
The nearest airport is Northeast Iowa Regional (30 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.452 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
14.3% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 129 Mbps.
There are 127 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.