Belle Plaine, Iowa
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 59% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 65% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 45% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 32% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 68% of US places
- top 16% for monthly rent
- top 18% for park & nature access
- bottom 5% for air quality
Belle Plaine is a small community in Iowa with about 2,421 residents. It grades B for lifestyle & connectivity and C for getting around. Standout strengths include monthly rent, park & nature access, and cost of living. It rates lower on airport distance and air quality.
- The median home value in Belle Plaine is $109k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Belle Plaine is $66k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Belle Plaine is $678 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Belle Plaine has a violent crime rate of 726/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Belle Plaine is 25 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
v.cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
cold
v.cold
78%55%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.5 in1.3 in
humid 91%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$66k55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 80% of US places
Home Value$109k28th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$678better than 84% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$817better than 28% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.44%better than 27% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 29% of US places
Sales Tax6.94%better than 68% of US places
Estimated total tax burden10.69%better than 39% of US places
Unemployment2.2%better than 66% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)20°F12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation36.0 in33rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall27.9 inbetter than 36% of US places
Sunny Days245 daysbetter than 63% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 41% of US places
Comfortable Days90 daysbetter than 70% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk43.3better than 78% of US places
Air Quality55 AQIbetter than 5% of US places
School Quality57.9better than 50% of US places
Violent Crime726/100kbetter than 50% of US places
Property Crime769/100kbetter than 58% of US places
Community
Population2,42168th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age44.865th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.0927th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.2385th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+2853rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)94.5%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.0%22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)2.3%42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.0%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.2%53rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time25 minbetter than 57% of US places
Walkability6.3/20better than 45% of US places
Airport Distance191 mibetter than 9% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.4%better than 58% of US places
Amenities Nearby49.57better than 39% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 82% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- 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)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Belle Plaine an affordable place to live?
- Belle Plaine is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 80% of comparable areas. Median rent is $678.
- Is Belle Plaine safe?
- Belle Plaine is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 726/100k (better than 50%). Property crime is 769/100k.
- What is the weather like in Belle Plaine?
- Belle Plaine averages 74°F in July and 20°F in January, with 36.0 in of annual precipitation and about 245 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Belle Plaine?
- Public-school quality in Belle Plaine is about average, scoring better than 50% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Belle Plaine?
- The average one-way commute in Belle Plaine is 25 min.