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IA area data

Mason City, IA

Mason City, IA.

Population: 28,703 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Mason City, IA is $160,923 — up 1.7% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $185,000 after a median 49 days on market. 9 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with drought, winter weather, cold wave the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 12.2% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$160,923

Typical home value

+1.7%

1-year change

49

Median days on market

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$160,923
1-year appreciation
+1.7%
3-year appreciation
+9.3%
5-year appreciation
+24.5%
10-year appreciation
+73.8%
Peak value since 2000 (Aug 2026)
$160,923
House Price Index (state)
386.7 (+2.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$185,000
Median list price
$179,900
Median price per sqft
$123
1-year sale-price change
+3.9%
Median days on market
49 days
Homes sold (recent period)
122
For-sale inventory
157
Sale-to-list ratio
97.5%
Active listings
150
1-year forecast
+2.3%
Days to pending
53 days
New listings (monthly)
51

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$744/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$749/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$927/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,218/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,485/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Low)
87.8 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.7¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
9
Elementary schools
4
Middle schools
2
High schools
3
Avg student-teacher ratio
14.1 : 1
Schools include
Alternative School, Harding Elementary School, Hoover Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, John Adams Middle School

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
drought, winter weather, cold wave, hail, strong wind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
drought: Relatively High · winter weather: Relatively High · hail: Relatively Moderate · tornado: Relatively Moderate · cold wave: Relatively Moderate · strong wind: Relatively Moderate
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone AE
NFIP flood claims on record
202
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 7% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
17.4%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
Mason City Coal Gasification Plant (0.4 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
46.0°F
Average high
56.0°F
Average low
36.0°F
Annual precipitation
37.0 in
Annual snowfall
46.9 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5a (extreme annual low -20 to -15°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
19
Days with Good air quality
58
Days with Moderate air quality
2
Highest AQI recorded (year)
56

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
19.2 / 20
Transit service frequency
196
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
12,587
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
10,128

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
20
Nearest airport
Harris Field (6 mi)
Nearest major airport
Mason City Municipal Airport (MCW) (7 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
1
Hospitals include
MERCYONE NORTH IOWA MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
2.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.9 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-60 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1956
Housing built before 1970
66.1%
Housing built 2000 or later
9.3%
Median annual property tax
$2,224
Mean commute to work
13 min
Households with broadband internet
69.0%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
20,606
Average weekly wage
$1,097
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
116

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Mason CityState medianUS median
Typical home value$160,923$211,043$288,527
Median sale price$185,000$220,000$325,000
Median days on market49 days48 days51 days
Median annual property tax$2,224$1,927$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in Mason City, IA?
$160,923.
What is the median sale price in Mason City, IA?
$185,000.
How long do homes take to sell in Mason City, IA?
Median days on market: 49 days.
What is typical rent in Mason City, IA?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $927/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Mason City, IA?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, winter weather, cold wave, hail, strong wind.
Is Mason City, IA in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within Mason City, IA. 202 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is AE. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in Mason City, IA?
Risk to homes is higher than 7% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Mason City, IA?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Mason City, IA?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Mason City Coal Gasification Plant, 0.4 mi.
How many schools serve Mason City, IA?
9 schools (4 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is Mason City, IA walkable?
Walkability index: 19.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Mason City, IA?
Good. Median AQI: 19. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Mason City, IA?
Regional Price Parity: 87.8 (100 = US average) (Low) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Mason City

Listing a home in Mason City, IA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents