Denison, IA
Census place 1919945 · pop 8,260
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
44.3% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
36.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
19.2% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.1% 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 24.3% · worse than most cities
17.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
17.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.68% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-0.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
17.5% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
89.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$65,684 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.4% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities
124 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
859 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
71.3% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
71/100 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 $214,900 · better than most cities
$150,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
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 Denison: 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 Denison, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Denison scores 45/100 — a D− (Rough) 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 Denison, IA?
- Denison reports 124 violent crimes per 100k and 859 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Denison, IA expensive to live in?
- Denison has a median home value of $150,200 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Denison, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (44.3%) — 5/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Denison, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is commute time (13 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.