Cost Of Living
Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.
Crime
Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Amenities
The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.
Employment
In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.
Onawa, Iowa is a small-sized city with a population of 2,853 people. If we look at the most recent Census, Onawa is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are American Indian and Alaskan and Native Hawaiian. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Onawa. With an average one way commute time of only 17 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Onawa could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Iowa if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like cost of living, commute, health & safety, you can easily compare the best places to live in Onawa and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Onawa to Iowa and the national average.
Onawa, IA receives 75/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #205 in Iowa and #3,844 in the USA. This is a fantastic score, as Onawa ranks well in multiple categories! Based on the scores for each individual category, Onawa has been rewarded with high marks for crime (A+) and housing (A). Onawa does not fare well for the following: amenities (F) and employment (D). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Test scores can be a good way to measure a school's academic performance and the proficiency of its students. They can be an important metric in deciding if the local area schools can provide a solid educational system for children. The schools in Onawa have an average test score of 66%, which is well above the US average.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Onawa has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Onawa meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Onawa. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Onawa are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Onawa come in at $149,434, which is 37.7% lower than the Iowa average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Onawa, the home price to income ratio is 2.5, which is 16.7% lower than the Iowa average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Onawa | Iowa | National |
| Average one way commute | 17min | 19min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 75.9% | 80.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 15.7% | 8.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 1.1% | 1.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.5% | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.2% | 4.5% | 4.6% |
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