City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Oelwein, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Oelwein - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

5,878
Residents
$49,821
Median income
$96,800
Median home
$919
Median rent (state)

Oelwein - the verdict

Oelwein ranks in the 19th percentile for household income and the 74th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

19th
percentile, household income
8th
percentile, home value
6th
percentile, median rent
74th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Oelwein, IA

Iowa's Oelwein is a small town, with 5,878 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Oelwein households earn a median of $49,821 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 13.5%. Home values in Oelwein run a median of $96,800, and the median resident age is 44.0 years. Educational attainment runs 16.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 49.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 2 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier. Oelwein reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 764.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 47.6°F with 35.4 inches of precipitation per year and 39.3 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Iowa at 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $919 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Iowa's average monthly utility costs around $212 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 50.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

5,878 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$49,821 /yr

Poverty 13.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Oelwein compare to other US cities?

Here's how Oelwein stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 6% pricier than other cities
Safety 74% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Iowa and the picture shifts: Oelwein ranks #64 of 141 Iowa cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Oelwein's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Iowa, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

19thIncome percentile
74thSafety percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income · 74th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Oelwein's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Oelwein's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 62 Avg. percentile National median
Oelwein's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Oelwein's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$96,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Oelwein $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Oelwein, IA Oelwein, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Oelwein, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Oelwein, IA median $49,821/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Oelwein, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Oelwein, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
5,878
Median Income
$49,821
Median Home Value
$96,800
Median Age
44.0
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Labor force participation
49.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
764.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
208.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
556.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
47.6°F
Annual Precipitation
35.4"
Annual Snowfall
39.3"

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,700 residents5,750 residents5,800 residents5,850 residents5,900 residents5,950 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,909 residents 5,757 residents ▼ -2.6%
Oelwein's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 2
2021 2
2022 1
2023 3
2024 2

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.9%
Carpool
8.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.2%
Work from Home
6.7%
Other
0.9%

Based on 2,300 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Oelwein sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$919/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
50.9 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Estherville
5,865 people
Polk City
5,833 people
Asbury
5,949 people
Maquoketa
6,105 people
Independence
6,149 people
Anamosa
5,553 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Oelwein's 5,878 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lakemoor, IL
5,878 people
Salamanca, NY
5,878 people
Alma, AR
5,879 people
Bonadelle Ranchos, CA
5,879 people
Estes Park, CO
5,879 people
Northchase, NC
5,879 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Oelwein's $49,821 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Rantoul, IL
$49,821 median income
Claypool, IN
$49,821 median income
Macy, IN
$49,821 median income
Palmyra, IN
$49,821 median income
Seneca, MO
$49,821 median income
Marble, NC
$49,821 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Oelwein, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Oelwein, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.8% White 92.0% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.7% American Indian 1.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Oelwein compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Oelwein (this city) 5,878 $49,821
Estherville 5,865 $54,624
Polk City 5,833 $163,000
Asbury 5,949 $130,071
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Oelwein, IA?

What is the population of Oelwein, IA? +

The population of Oelwein, IA stands at 5,878 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Oelwein, IA? +

Oelwein households earn a median of $49,821 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Oelwein? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Oelwein; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

Is Oelwein, IA safe? +

Oelwein has a total crime rate of 764.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Oelwein, IA? +

The median home value in Oelwein is $96,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Oelwein? +

Climate normals put Oelwein's yearly average temperature at 47.6°F, 35.4 inches of precipitation, and 39.3 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.