Mason City, Iowa
Among the top 12% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 35% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 41% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B, better than 50% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A, better than 88% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 42% of US places
- top 2% for commute time
- top 4% for walkability
- bottom 4% for monthly owner costs
Mason City is a mid-size city in Iowa with about 27,000 residents. It grades A for getting around and C for affordability. Standout strengths include commute time, walkability, and air quality. It rates lower on property crime and monthly owner costs.
- The median home value in Mason City is $126k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Mason City is $61k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Mason City is $841 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Mason City has a violent crime rate of 1210/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Mason City is 15 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
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73%52%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.7 in1.2 in
humid 87%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$61k47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 85% of US places
Home Value$126k36th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$841better than 60% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$9kbetter than 4% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.61%better than 21% of US places
Income Tax6.00%better than 29% of US places
Sales Tax6.94%better than 68% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.61%better than 31% of US places
Unemployment3.4%better than 55% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)16°F6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)72°F22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation37.7 in37th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall44.4 inbetter than 18% of US places
Sunny Days224 daysbetter than 41% of US places
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 54% of US places
Comfortable Days90 daysbetter than 70% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk73.1better than 38% of US places
Air Quality23 AQIbetter than 95% of US places
School Quality79.9better than 75% of US places
Violent Crime1210/100kbetter than 27% of US places
Property Crime2128/100kbetter than 17% of US places
Community
Population27,27195th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age43.159th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1744th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9851st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven33rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)87.4%55th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)2.2%67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)6.6%64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.8%68th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.1%52nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time15 minbetter than 98% of US places
Walkability13.6/20better than 96% of US places
Airport Distance120 mibetter than 28% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access86.4%better than 51% of US places
Amenities Nearby18.70better than 20% of US places
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 71% 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 Mason City an affordable place to live?
- Mason City is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 85% of comparable areas. Median rent is $841.
- Is Mason City safe?
- Mason City is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 1210/100k (better than 27%). Property crime is 2128/100k.
- What is the weather like in Mason City?
- Mason City averages 72°F in July and 16°F in January, with 37.7 in of annual precipitation and about 224 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Mason City?
- Public-school quality in Mason City is above average, scoring better than 75% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Mason City?
- The average one-way commute in Mason City is 15 min.