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Living in
Mason City.
About
Life in Mason City
If you're considering Mason City, you're looking at a small Midwestern city with genuine character and a low-key quality of life. The architecture here is legitimately distinctive—the Prairie School historic district is one of the largest concentrations in the country, with Frank Lloyd Wright buildings still standing downtown, which gives the place an unusual cultural gravity for its size. That said, the main draw for living here is practical: median home values around $142,000, median rent under $900, and a solid job market anchored by healthcare and manufacturing means your money goes further than in larger metros.
Mason City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
3.3%
Broadband Internet
89.0%
of households
Population Growth
-1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Mason City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mason City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (23.4%), and 2.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.4%
of residents
65 and Older
23.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.8%
of households
Married Couples
43.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.07
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% below IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Mason City
In Mason City, rent runs 9% below the IA average, and home values are 32% below the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
34.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.1%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,199
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $160,387 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IA
Unemployment in Mason City
Unemployment in Mason City is close to the IA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Mason City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute13.5 min avg
How Mason City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mason City, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 90% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW)
Regional airport · few flights8,747 passengers boarded in 2025
- 119 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 7% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mason City runs 7% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
353.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,579.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mason City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
69.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cerro Gordo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cerro Gordo County, which includes Mason City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | High Wind | $90,000 |
| 2024 | 19 | Drought | $150,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 15 | Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | $125,000 |
| 2021 | 19 | Drought | $163,000 |
| 2020 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1,000 |
| 2019 | 21 | Winter Storm | $203,000 |
| 2018 | 35 | Thunderstorm Wind | $830,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cerro Gordo County, county-wide
Air Quality19 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2023)
Air quality in Cerro Gordo County, which includes Mason City, is typically good.
Median AQI
19
Cerro Gordo County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 11°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mason City has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 11°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
59°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
28°/11°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.7"
Annual Snowfall
44.4"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
161
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 7°F | 0.89" |
| Feb | 29°F | 11°F | 1.07" |
| Mar | 41°F | 23°F | 1.95" |
| Apr | 56°F | 35°F | 3.91" |
| May | 69°F | 47°F | 5.58" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 5.70" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 4.63" |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 3.71" |
| Sep | 74°F | 50°F | 3.24" |
| Oct | 60°F | 38°F | 2.55" |
| Nov | 43°F | 25°F | 1.79" |
| Dec | 30°F | 14°F | 1.25" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mason City
Mason City has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mason City
Mason City's student/teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mason City
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Mason City
Mason City Public Library
225 2nd St Se, Mason City
Cities Near Mason City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mason City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mason City FAQ
Is Mason City, Iowa affordable?⌄
Mason City's median rent is $882/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,804/year. Median home value is $142,000.
Is Mason City, Iowa safe?⌄
Mason City's violent crime rate was 354 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2580 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mason City, Iowa?⌄
Mason City has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mason City, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Mason City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $882/month and median household income is $64,804/year. The median home value is $142,000. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mason City, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Mason City is 14 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from