Onawa, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Thurston County County

3.8 /5.0
B+ Good
2,862 Population 543/sq mi density
$54,659 Median Income $28,674 per capita
$125,700 Home Value $159,191 Zillow
$1,005 Median Rent 30.7% income on rent
49°F Avg Temperature
B+
Overall
3.8 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$54,659 median income, 1.3% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$125,700 home value, $1,005/mo rent
C
Education
2.3 / 5.0
16.7% bachelor's degree or higher

Onawa, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$54,659
27% below
$28,674 per capita
Home Value
$125,700
55% below
Zillow: $159,191
Median Rent
$1,005/mo
14% below
30.7% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
16.7%
50% below
93.2% high school+
Unemployment
1.3%
64% below
5.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
44.8%
40% above
19.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
49°F

How Onawa Compares to the U.S. Average

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

Income
73%
Home Value
45%
Rent
86%
Poverty
46%
Bachelor's
50%
Unemployment
36%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Onawa a Good Place to Live?

B+
3.8 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Onawa residents earn a median household income of $54,659 , which is 27% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $28,674. The unemployment rate stands at 1.3% (64% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 164 business establishments, including 4 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Onawa is $125,700 , 55% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $159,191. Median rent is $1,005/month, with 30.7% 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 1950.

Education

16.7% of adults in Onawa hold a bachelor's degree or higher (50% below the national average). 93.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.7/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Onawa has an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 29.9 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population2,862
Median Age36.3 yrs
Density543/mi²
Male / Female46% / 54%
Foreign Born0.0%
Veterans7.9%

Economy

A
Median Income$54,659
Per Capita$28,674
Unemployment1.3%
Poverty5.7%
County GDP$605M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,106

Housing

A+
Home Value$125,700
Rent$1,005
Ownership72.7%
Zillow$159,191
Housing Units1,383
Rent Burden30.7%

Health

Obesity44.8%
Diabetes11.1%
Smoking19.7%
Heart Disease6.3%
Premature Death27,026/100K

Climate

Avg Temp49°F
Rain29.9 in/yr
Elevation1,049 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+16.7%
High School+93.2%
Graduate+2.2%
School Score5.7/10

Community

2024 VoteR 53% / D 46%
Commute21 min
Broadband82.8%
Internet Speed32 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries2

Did You Know?

The median home in Onawa was built in 1950.
The nearest airport is Sioux Gateway/Brig General Bud Day Field (30 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.419 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
16.4% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.