Decorah, IA
Census place 1919405 · pop 7,535
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-2.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.41% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
89.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$64,366 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
61.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$244,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
32.0% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
119 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
15.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
8.1% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
42.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
20.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
10.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
2.8% 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
45/100 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 964/100k · better than most cities
224 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
5.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
13 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
Not measured for Decorah: 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 Decorah, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Decorah scores 68/100 — 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 population growth (5yr). 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 Decorah, IA?
- Decorah reports 119 violent crimes per 100k and 224 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Decorah, IA expensive to live in?
- Decorah has a median home value of $244,500 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Decorah, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is population growth (5yr) (-2.2%) — 18/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Decorah, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (13 min) — 98/100, 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.