Mason City, IA
Census place 1950160 · pop 27,050
Birthplace of 'The Music Man' composer Meredith Willson, whose hometown inspired the show's fictional 'River City.'
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
40.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2337 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
16.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
20.8% 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
1.55% 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
-0.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
89.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
28.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$64,804 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
224 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
12.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
65.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.43 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
16.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
7.7% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
66/100 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 3.6% · better than most cities
3.0% 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 $214,900 · better than most cities
$142,000 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
14 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$925/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Not measured for Mason City: Air, Bad air. 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 Mason City, IA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Mason City scores 56/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 20 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent 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 Mason City, IA?
- Mason City reports 224 violent crimes per 100k and 2337 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Mason City, IA expensive to live in?
- Mason City has a median home value of $142,000 and typical rent around $925/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Mason City, IA?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (40.5%) — 17/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Mason City, IA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($925/mo) — 98/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Birthplace of 'The Music Man' composer Meredith Willson, whose hometown inspired the show's fictional 'River City.'
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.