At a Glance
Median Income
$49,821
$28,933 per capita
Home Value
$96,800
Zillow: $108,925
Median Rent
$762/mo
41.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
306/100K
1,546/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
16.1%
91.1% high school+
Unemployment
4.1%
13.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.5%
20.1% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
46°F
261 sunny days/yr
How Oelwein Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Oelwein's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Oelwein a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Oelwein residents earn a median household income of $49,821 , which is 34% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $28,933. The unemployment rate stands at 4.1% (14% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 13.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 680 business establishments, including 41 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Oelwein is $96,800 , 66% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $108,925. Median rent is $762/month, with 41.2% 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 1953.
Safety & Crime
Oelwein reports 306 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 20% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,546/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
16.1% of adults in Oelwein hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(52% below the national average).
91.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Oelwein has an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C).
Winters average 16°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 261 sunny days per year. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population5,878
Median Age44.0 yrs
Density1,222/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans10.6%
Economy
B
Median Income$49,821
Per Capita$28,933
Unemployment4.1%
Poverty13.5%
County GDP$1,075M
Avg Weekly Wage$939
Housing
A+
Home Value$96,800
Rent$762
Ownership76.8%
Zillow$108,925
Housing Units3,029
Rent Burden41.2%
Crime
F
Violent306/100K
Property1,546/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault306/100K
Burglary408/100K
Health
Obesity40.5%
Diabetes10.9%
Smoking20.1%
Heart Disease6.2%
Premature Death8,298/100K
Climate
Avg Temp46°F
Sunny Days261/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation1,037 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+16.1%
High School+91.1%
Graduate+5.1%
School Score5.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 64% / D 34%
Commute21 min
Broadband82.1%
Internet Speed90 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries11
Did You Know?
Oelwein was founded in 1872.
The median home in Oelwein was built in 1953.
The nearest airport is Waterloo Regional (26 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.448 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
24.8% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.
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