At a Glance
Median Income
$56,250
$19,979 per capita
Violent Crime
26/100K
1,000/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
4.1%
93.8% high school+
Unemployment
14.2%
12.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.6%
17.3% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
50°F
275 sunny days/yr
How Melrose Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Melrose's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Melrose a Good Place to Live?
D
1.6 / 5.0 — Poor
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Melrose residents earn a median household income of $56,250 , which is 25% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $19,979. The unemployment rate stands at 14.2% (294% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 185 business establishments, including 8 restaurants.
Safety & Crime
Melrose reports 26 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 93% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,000/100K.
Education
4.1% of adults in Melrose hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(88% below the national average).
93.8% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Melrose has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 40.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population139
Median Age51.8 yrs
Density136/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans9.2%
Economy
C+
Median Income$56,250
Per Capita$19,979
Unemployment14.2%
Poverty12.8%
County GDP$316M
Avg Weekly Wage$968
Housing
Home Value
Rent
Ownership98.1%
Zillow$168,678
Housing Units64
Rent Burden24.6%
Crime
F
Violent26/100K
Property1,000/100K
Health
Obesity38.6%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking17.3%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death8,502/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Sunny Days275/yr
Rain40.4 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation970 ft
Education
F
Bachelor's+4.1%
High School+93.8%
Graduate+0.0%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 78% / D 21%
Commute34 min
Broadband54.0%
Internet Speed128 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries4
Did You Know?
The median home in Melrose was built in 1950.
The nearest airport is Ottumwa Regional (33 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.460 (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.
Average internet download speed is 128 Mbps.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.
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