Oskaloosa, IA

Census place 1959925 · pop 11,504

D58/ 100
😐 Meh
C
in IA
📍 Iowa ranks #11 of 50 states →
🏆 Jobs2.4% · top 4%
🚽 Smoking16.6% · bottom 21%
Taxes
1.41% 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

Adult smoking16.6%21

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

16.6% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Adult obesity38.7%26

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

38.7% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Physical inactivity29.6%27

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

29.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate16.6%28

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

16.6% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Population growth (5yr)-0.1%29

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

-0.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Broadband access88.8%30

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

88.8% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Property-tax burden1.41%31

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.

Median household income$64,00435

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

$64,004 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Bachelor's degree or higher25.4%38

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

25.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Homeownership60.8%41

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

60.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health17.7%41

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

17.7% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Income inequality0.4444

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Violent crime rate140/100k62

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

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

Property crime rate911/100k66

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

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

Uninsured adults7.5%71

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

7.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Housing cost$153,30085

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

$153,300 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level43/10092

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

43/100 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.

Commute time16 min93

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

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

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.4%96

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

2.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Oskaloosa: 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 Oskaloosa, IA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Oskaloosa scores 58/100 — 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 unemployment rate and its weakest is adult smoking. 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 Oskaloosa, IA?
Oskaloosa reports 140 violent crimes per 100k and 911 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Oskaloosa, IA expensive to live in?
Oskaloosa has a median home value of $153,300 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Oskaloosa, IA?
Its weakest measured area is adult smoking (16.6%) — 21/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Oskaloosa, IA best at?
Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.4%) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

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