Cherokee, IA
Census place 1913080 · pop 5,154
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
42.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
18.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
34.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
85.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
18.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$61,750 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
24.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.13% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
213 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
9.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
16.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
67.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+4.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
330 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$136,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
37/100 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.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
12 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Not measured for Cherokee: 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 Cherokee, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Cherokee scores 57/100 — a D (Meh) 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 adult obesity. 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 Cherokee, IA?
- Cherokee reports 213 violent crimes per 100k and 330 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Cherokee, IA expensive to live in?
- Cherokee has a median home value of $136,700 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Cherokee, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (42.8%) — 8/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Cherokee, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (12 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.