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Living in
Oskaloosa.
About
Life in Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa is a community of 11,492 people in Iowa. The median household income is $64,004, median rent runs about $831 per month, and median home values are around $153,300. Unemployment is low at 2.8%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Oskaloosa at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Foreign-Born
2.9%
Broadband Internet
88.8%
of households
Population Growth
-0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.9% foreign-born, most often from Japan
Who lives in Oskaloosa: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oskaloosa, the largest foreign-born group is from Japan (31.8%), and 1.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.9%
of residents
65 and Older
20.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.5%
of households
Married Couples
44.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.35
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 15% below IA average
Rent, home values, and income in Oskaloosa
In Oskaloosa, rent runs 15% below the IA average, and home values are 26% below the IA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
34.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
8.9%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,162
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $191,591 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below IA average
Unemployment in Oskaloosa
Unemployment in Mahaska County, which includes Oskaloosa, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the IA average.
Unemployment rate
Oskaloosa: Mahaska County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Mahaska County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Oskaloosa Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16 min avg
How Oskaloosa residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oskaloosa, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 55 mi
Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
Small hub1.6M 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 11% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oskaloosa runs 11% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
293.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
984.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oskaloosa Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
29.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Mahaska County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Mahaska County, which includes Oskaloosa, the most common type is drought, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 17 | Drought | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | Drought | None reported |
| 2022 | 9 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 9 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2020 | 7 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2019 | 16 | Flood | $445,000 |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $291,000 |
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
Mahaska County, county-wide
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2023)
Data not yet available
Climate84°F summers, 15°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oskaloosa has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 15°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/39°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/15°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
38.7"
Annual Snowfall
23.6"
Hot Days/Year
15
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
143
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
95
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 12°F | 1.75" |
| Feb | 36°F | 16°F | 1.74" |
| Mar | 49°F | 27°F | 2.15" |
| Apr | 62°F | 38°F | 3.92" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.71" |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 5.18" |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 4.40" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 5.08" |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 65°F | 41°F | 2.68" |
| Nov | 49°F | 29°F | 2.20" |
| Dec | 36°F | 18°F | 1.35" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Mahaska Health Partnership
Critical Access 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.
Education13.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa's student/teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Oskaloosa
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,301 students · in-state tuition $30,800 · 39% graduate · median earnings $52,106 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 72 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (72 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
National Historic Site
72 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa Public Library
301 S Market, Oskaloosa
Cities Near Oskaloosa
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oskaloosa?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oskaloosa FAQ
Is Oskaloosa, Iowa affordable?⌄
Oskaloosa's median rent is $831/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $64,004/year. Median home value is $153,300.
Is Oskaloosa, Iowa safe?⌄
Oskaloosa's violent crime rate was 294 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 984 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oskaloosa, Iowa?⌄
Mahaska County, which includes Oskaloosa, has an unemployment rate of 2.8%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oskaloosa, Iowa?⌄
The cost of living in Oskaloosa is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $831/month and median household income is $64,004/year. The median home value is $153,300. About 34% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oskaloosa, Iowa?⌄
The average commute in Oskaloosa is 16 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