Grinnell, Iowa
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 36% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 26% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade F, better than 6% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B, better than 63% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 46% of US places
- top 1% for commute time
- top 18% for cost of living
- bottom 9% for air quality
Grinnell is a town in Iowa with about 9,511 residents. It grades B for getting around and F for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include commute time, cost of living, and park & nature access. It rates lower on airport distance and air quality.
- The median home value in Grinnell is $178k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Grinnell is $58k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Grinnell is $852 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Grinnell has a violent crime rate of 1604/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Grinnell is 13 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
73%51%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.6 in1.4 in
humid 94%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$58k42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 82% of US places
Home Value$178k55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$852better than 58% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 14% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.53%better than 24% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 29% of US places
Sales Tax6.94%better than 68% of US places
Estimated total tax burden12.99%better than 25% of US places
Unemployment4.0%better than 49% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)21°F13th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation38.2 in38th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall31.0 inbetter than 32% of US places
Sunny Days194 daysbetter than 18% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 41% of US places
Comfortable Days93 daysbetter than 76% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk63.0better than 54% of US places
Air Quality53 AQIbetter than 9% of US places
School Quality49.0better than 34% of US places
Violent Crime1604/100kbetter than 14% of US places
Property Crime1942/100kbetter than 21% of US places
Community
Population9,51186th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age39.141st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2049th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.8421st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+1439th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)87.8%56th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)2.0%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)3.5%49th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)4.2%89th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.5%46th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time13 minbetter than 99% of US places
Walkability6.8/20better than 55% of US places
Airport Distance167 mibetter than 13% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access82.5%better than 37% of US places
Amenities Nearby33.65better than 31% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 80% 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 Grinnell an affordable place to live?
- Grinnell is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 82% of comparable areas. Median rent is $852.
- Is Grinnell safe?
- Grinnell is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1604/100k (better than 14%). Property crime is 1942/100k.
- What is the weather like in Grinnell?
- Grinnell averages 74°F in July and 21°F in January, with 38.2 in of annual precipitation and about 194 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Grinnell?
- Public-school quality in Grinnell is below average, scoring better than 34% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Grinnell?
- The average one-way commute in Grinnell is 13 min.