Algona, IA

Census place 1901135 · pop 5,377

C66/ 100
👍 Solid
B
in IA
📍 Iowa ranks #11 of 50 states →
🏆 Commute11 min · top 1%
🚽 Broadband85.8% · bottom 15%
Taxes
1.39% property · US 0.99%6.94% sales · US 7.00%3.80% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Broadband access85.8%15

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

85.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Median household income$56,04022

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$56,040 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Population growth (5yr)-1.3%22

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-1.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Property-tax burden1.39%31

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.39% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult obesity37.4%35

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

37.4% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Bachelor's degree or higher25.5%39

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

25.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Physical inactivity26.7%41

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

26.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Adult smoking14.1%42

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

14.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Homeownership68.9%64

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

68.9% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Violent crime rate94/100k73

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

94 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults7.2%74

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

7.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poverty rate6.9%75

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

6.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Poor mental health15.2%76

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

15.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Income inequality0.4078

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.40 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Housing cost$160,80083

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$160,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level56/10086

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

56/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.7%89

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.7% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property crime rate132/100k92

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

132 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Commute time11 min99

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

11 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Not measured for Algona: Air, Bad air, Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Algona, IA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Algona scores 66/100 — a C (Solid) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is commute time and its weakest is broadband access. Iowa overall ranks #11 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Algona, IA?
Algona reports 94 violent crimes per 100k and 132 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Algona, IA expensive to live in?
Algona has a median home value of $160,800 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Algona, IA?
Its weakest measured area is broadband access (85.8%) — 15/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Algona, IA best at?
Its strongest measured area is commute time (11 min) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.