Mahaska County, Iowa
Among the top 9% of US counties for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 67% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 19% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 62% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 81% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A, better than 91% of US counties
- top 5% for cost of living
- top 9% for walkability
- bottom 15% for sunny days
Mahaska County is a county in Iowa with about 22,000 residents. It grades A for lifestyle & connectivity and D for weather. Standout strengths include cost of living, walkability, and commute time. It rates lower on property tax rate and sunny days.
Official websitemahaskacounty.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
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72%51%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.8 in1.6 in
humid 95%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$65k63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$41kbetter than 95% of US counties
Home Value$135k35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$773better than 61% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$1kbetter than 59% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.38%better than 19% of US counties
Income Tax6.00%better than 21% of US counties
Sales Tax6.94%better than 70% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden11.14%better than 23% of US counties
Unemployment3.3%better than 77% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)22°F16th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation38.4 in39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall29.5 inbetter than 29% of US counties
Sunny Days197 daysbetter than 15% of US counties
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 51% of US counties
Comfortable Days86 daysbetter than 68% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk29.7better than 69% of US counties
School Quality63.2better than 65% of US counties
Violent Crime930/100kbetter than 40% of US counties
Property Crime769/100kbetter than 57% of US counties
Community
Population22,05945th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age39.632nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1218th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0371st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+4862nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)92.5%82nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.7%47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)2.4%23rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.0%69th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.4%25th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 89% of US counties
Walkability9.4/20better than 91% of US counties
Airport Distance169 mibetter than 20% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access85.3%better than 63% of US counties
Amenities Nearby8.61better than 82% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 77% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Mahaska County an affordable place to live?
- Mahaska County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $41k, better than 95% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Mahaska County?
- The median home value in Mahaska County is $135k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Mahaska County?
- Median household income in Mahaska County is $65k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Mahaska County?
- Median gross rent in Mahaska County is $773 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Mahaska County safe?
- Mahaska County is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 930/100k (better than 40%). Property crime is 769/100k.
- What is the weather like in Mahaska County?
- Mahaska County averages 75°F in July and 22°F in January, with 38.4 in of annual precipitation and about 197 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Mahaska County?
- Public-school quality in Mahaska County is above average, scoring better than 65% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Mahaska County?
- The average one-way commute in Mahaska County is 18 min.
Other counties in Iowa
Explore Iowa
Data sources
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)